Finland to close all but one of its border crossings with Russia: Analysis

Finland has made the decision to close the majority of its border crossings with Russia due to an increase in the number of refugees and migrants entering the country. The Finnish government alleges that Moscow is deliberately pushing these individuals to the country’s frontiers. Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo stated at a press conference that only one border crossing, Raja-Jooseppi, will remain open after Friday. Finland had previously closed four of its eastern border checkpoints last week and plans to close three of the four remaining crossing points.

The number of asylum seekers entering Finland from Russia has seen a significant surge in November, with over 600 individuals in contrast to just a few dozen in September and October. These asylum seekers mainly originate from countries such as Yemen, Afghanistan, Kenya, Morocco, Pakistan, Somalia, and Syria. Most of them are young men in their 20s, although families with children have also been documented. Finnish border officials have begun erecting barriers, including concrete obstacles with barbed wire, at some of the crossing points.

The recent closures have resulted in a shift of arrivals to the northern border stations of Vartius and Salla, which still accept asylum applications. Finland claims that Russia is exploiting migrants as part of its “hybrid warfare” against the country. On the other hand, Moscow denies funneling migrants and refugees to the Finnish border. Finland joined NATO in April, which has led to strained relations with Russia.

The Finnish Foreign Minister, Elina Valtonen, expressed that Russia should have addressed Finland’s concerns or provided an explanation to reach a mutually acceptable solution regarding the border issue. The closure of the most utilized checkpoints on the border prompted the Russian Foreign Ministry to issue a formal protest and summon the Finnish ambassador to Moscow.

Refugees and migrants continue to arrive daily at checkpoints in Kainuu and Finland’s Arctic Lapland region, facing severe winter conditions with temperatures as low as minus 20 degrees Celsius (minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit). The governor of northern Russia’s Murmansk region, Andrei Chibis, referred to the situation as a “humanitarian crisis,” criticizing Finnish authorities for not allowing foreign citizens to cross the border. Finland has sought additional operational support from Frontex, the EU’s border agency, and up to 60 officers to address this issue.

This recent development in Finland echoes a similar situation in 2011 along the border between Poland and Belarus, where thousands of asylum seekers became stranded in no-man’s land. The EU accused Belarus of enticing migrants and refugees to enter and funneling them westward into the bloc, while Poland blamed Russian President Vladimir Putin for orchestrating the crisis. Both Belarus and Russia denied these allegations. Human rights groups raised concerns about the treatment and wellbeing of the stranded refugees and migrants, while Poland faced accusations of illegal pushbacks at its border.

Overall, the article provides information about Finland’s decision to close its border crossings with Russia due to an increase in refugees and migrants. The sources cited include statements from Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, foreign minister Elina Valtonen, Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Maria Zakharova, EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson, and the governor of northern Russia’s Murmansk region, Andrei Chibis. However, it is essential to analyze these statements critically and consider potential biases. Additionally, the impact of the information presented can be influenced by the political landscape and the prevalence of fake news, which might shape public perception of the situation at the Finnish-Russian border.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/22/finland-to-close-all-but-one-of-its-border-crossings-with-russia