Finland to shut border with Russia for 14 days. : Analysis

Finland is taking measures to address the influx of asylum seekers from Russia by closing its entire border for the next two weeks. The Finnish government and its allies believe that this surge is a result of an orchestrated move by Moscow. Last week, Finland closed all but one border crossing with Russia, and now even that last remaining crossing, Raja-Jooseppi, will be closed. Finnish authorities have reported around 900 asylum seekers entering the country from Russia this month, representing a significant increase from previous numbers.

The Finnish government alleges that Russia is sending people to the border in response to Finland’s decision to increase defense cooperation with the United States. However, the Kremlin has denied these accusations. Finland recently joined NATO, showing its solidarity with other nations in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo has called this situation an “influence operation” by Russia, which Finland refuses to accept.

Prime Minister Orpo stated that despite the border closures, there are still people heading towards Finland from Russia, and Finnish intelligence has information about Russian authorities assisting the asylum seekers. On Monday, three asylum seekers arrived at the remote Raja-Jooseppi station, the only open border post at the time, and no new entrants were recorded on Tuesday. The government announced that the border station would remain open on Wednesday before closing until December 13.

Critics have raised concerns about the remote location of the Raja-Jooseppi crossing, arguing that it may restrict the right to seek asylum. Asylum seekers will now be limited to applying for protection at ports and airports, i.e., “open border crossing points for air and maritime traffic.” The railway crossing between Russia and Finland will remain open but exclusively for cargo traffic.

Analysis:

When evaluating the credibility of sources, it is important to consider that this article relies on information provided by the Finnish government and its allies. As a result, there may be a potential bias in favor of the Finnish perspective. While there is no direct evidence presented to support the claim of Russia’s orchestrated move to send asylum seekers, it does acknowledge that the Kremlin denies these allegations.

The presentation of facts within the article is generally straightforward, providing information about the border closures, the number of asylum seekers entering Finland, and the Finnish government’s allegations against Russia. However, it would have been beneficial to include additional perspectives from other relevant stakeholders, such as the Russian government or independent experts, to provide a more balanced view of the situation.

The political landscape, particularly Finland’s recent decision to join NATO and their increased defense cooperation with the United States, may influence the public’s perception of the information presented. Individuals who favor Finland’s alignment with Western powers may be more inclined to accept the government’s explanation of Russia’s actions. In contrast, those with opposing views may view the situation through a different lens and question the validity of the claims made.

As with any news article, readers should approach the information critically and consider the potential influence of biases, limited perspectives, and the broader geopolitical context. While the article provides some useful details, it may not provide a comprehensive or nuanced understanding of the complex factors influencing the asylum seeker issue between Finland and Russia.

Source: Aljazeera news: Finland to close border with Russia for two weeks