The border with Russia will remain closed indefinitely / day

Finland closed the 1340 -kilometer border with Russia after about 1,000 illegal immigrants without visas arrived there.

The influx of illegal immigrants was organized by Russia, says Helsinki.

« On the basis of the information available to the Finnish authorities, there is still a risk that the instrumentalized migration will resume and expand, as has been seen before, » the government statement said.

« If this phenomenon continues, it will pose a serious threat to Finland’s national security and public order, » the government said.

Applications for international protection are diverted to other national border crossing points, the statement said.

The Finnish Government decided to close the eastern border « until further announcements » in April 2024, and it has now renewed this decision.

« The government’s decision to close the border is in force under the same conditions for about a year. It was therefore reasonable to re -evaluate the content of the decision and its preconditions, » the government said.

In March, the government also proposed to extend the temporary law for one year, which allows border guards to reject asylum seekers under certain circumstances.

The Government announced that both the decision to maintain the border is closed and the temporary border security law « has achieved the intended effect and the instrumentalized migration, which began in November 2023, has been terminated. »