.news from RussiaFinnish Official to Address Government on Border Situation with Russia
April 3, 2024 at 11:15 AM
Photo: rbc.ru
The Deputy Chief of the Department of Border and Maritime Transport of the Finnish Ministry of the Interior, Colonel Marko Turunen, is set to address the government on April 4th regarding the situation at the border with Russia, according to the agenda of the cabinet meeting scheduled for that day. The theme of the official’s report is outlined as «The government’s decision to close border crossing points until further notice and centralize the submission of applications for international protection», - as stated on the country’s government website. It is noted that changes may be made to the agenda before the start of the session.
On March 15th, the Finnish Ministry of the Interior announced that it had submitted a draft law for public discussion regarding the restriction of applications for international protection for refugees arriving only from Russia. Essentially, this entails a ban on the arrival of migrants from the Russian side. The project also allows for the opening of crossing points for other transportation flows (excluding refugees). In early February, Finnish authorities extended the ban on opening border crossing points with Russia for at least another two months, until April 14th. At the end of February, Finnish broadcaster Yle reported that the Finnish Border Guard proposed permanently closing two border crossing points on the Russian-Finnish border.
The number of temporary border crossings on the Russian-Finnish border has been reduced several times. In December, the Finnish government decided to open only two crossing points on the border with Russia: «Vaalimaa» and «Nuijamaa», - warning of the closure of the entire border if the flow of migrants seeking asylum in Finland continued. In November, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo announced that the country would close all crossing points on the border with Russia from November 30th to December 13th, with the closure period being extended thereafter. In 2023, Finland closed the crossing points «Vaalimaa» (from the Finnish side) — «Torfyanovka» (from the Russian side), «Nuijamaa — Brusnichnoye», - «Imatra — Svetogorsk», - and «Niirola — Vyartsilya». Finland accuses Russia of org
On March 15th, the Finnish Ministry of the Interior announced that it had submitted a draft law for public discussion regarding the restriction of applications for international protection for refugees arriving only from Russia. Essentially, this entails a ban on the arrival of migrants from the Russian side. The project also allows for the opening of crossing points for other transportation flows (excluding refugees). In early February, Finnish authorities extended the ban on opening border crossing points with Russia for at least another two months, until April 14th. At the end of February, Finnish broadcaster Yle reported that the Finnish Border Guard proposed permanently closing two border crossing points on the Russian-Finnish border.
The number of temporary border crossings on the Russian-Finnish border has been reduced several times. In December, the Finnish government decided to open only two crossing points on the border with Russia: «Vaalimaa» and «Nuijamaa», - warning of the closure of the entire border if the flow of migrants seeking asylum in Finland continued. In November, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo announced that the country would close all crossing points on the border with Russia from November 30th to December 13th, with the closure period being extended thereafter. In 2023, Finland closed the crossing points «Vaalimaa» (from the Finnish side) — «Torfyanovka» (from the Russian side), «Nuijamaa — Brusnichnoye», - «Imatra — Svetogorsk», - and «Niirola — Vyartsilya». Finland accuses Russia of org
By Aijan Ismailova and Anna Bondarenko
