Finland’s eastern border with Russia has been closed once again due to a surge in asylum seekers, with the Finnish government deciding to reopen it for only a few hours before reversing the decision. The closure will remain in effect until January 14, according to Interior Minister Mari Rantanen.
The abrupt closure came after an unexpected increase in the number of asylum seekers when the border crossing points in Vaalimaa and Niirala were opened. More than 60 people arrived at the border immediately after the crossings were opened, which prompted the Finnish authorities to take action.
Minister Rantanen expressed her concerns about the rapid influx of asylum seekers, stating that illegal immigration at Finland’s eastern border had resumed at a faster pace than anticipated. This sudden surge has prompted the Finnish government to take strict measures to control the situation.
It is worth noting that just last month, Finland closed its border with Russia for two weeks. The move came amid accusations that Moscow was deliberately encouraging migrants and asylum seekers to cross the frontier as a form of retaliation for Finland’s decision to join NATO. However, the Kremlin has repeatedly denied these allegations.
To mitigate the risk of Russia instrumentalizing immigration, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo announced that only the Vaalimaa and Niirala crossings would be reopened. This decision was made due to the high likelihood of Russia continuing to exploit immigration for its own political gain.
In conclusion, Finland has once again closed its eastern border with Russia in response to a sudden influx of asylum seekers. The decision to reopen the border for a brief period highlights the challenges faced by authorities in managing immigration and maintaining security at the border. The Finnish government continues to address the issue and take measures to protect its borders from exploitation.
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