Finnish authorities announced on Friday (November 17) that they will install barriers at four border crossings with Russia starting midnight to curb the rising influx of migrants, accusing Russia of orchestrating the situation. Finland claims that Russia is facilitating the movement of migrants in retaliation for Finland’s decision to enhance defense cooperation with the US. The Kremlin denies these allegations.
Barriers will be placed at four of the nine border crossings with Russia, specifically at Vaalimaa, Nuijamaa, Imatra, and Niirala. The installations are scheduled before 1900 local time (1700 GMT), according to Finland’s public broadcaster YLE. The broadcaster reported physical confrontations between border guards and migrants, including the use of chemical irritants to repel one migrant and pushing back a group of 30 who attempted to storm the Niirala border crossing.
Matti Pitkaniitty, the head of international affairs at the Border Guard, stated that the goal is to use barriers to prevent entry and that these measures are a response to changes in Russia’s border policy.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, as quoted by Russian state news agency TASS, expressed regret over Finland’s decision, describing it as a “big mistake” and accusing Finnish authorities of choosing a path of confrontation with Russia. Peskov emphasized the negative impact on bilateral relations.
The Finnish Border Guard reported that around 300 asylum seekers, primarily from Iraq, Yemen, Somalia, and Syria, arrived in Finland in the current week alone. By midday on Friday, nearly 100 had entered Finland from Russia. The border between Russia and Finland, spanning 1340 km, serves as the European Union’s external border.
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