In an exclusive interview with Yle, Finland's esteemed broadcasting company, Prime Minister Petteri Orpo firmly reiterated the Finnish government's unwavering stance on maintaining the closure of its entire border with Russia. Throughout the interview, PM Orpo emphasised the infeasibility of reopening the border as long as Russia persists in directing a flow of migrants towards Finnish territory, a situation extensively reported by SchengenVisaInfo.com.
"With the current scenario unchanged in Russia, as per my latest information, the border closure stands," stated PM Orpo, highlighting the unchanged circumstances. He further underscored the importance of border security for Finland, noting that decisive actions are imperative for safeguarding. The government is poised to decide whether to extend the border closure further in the upcoming days, with the current restrictions scheduled to lapse on Sunday, January 14.
The Finnish government has squarely accused Russian authorities of facilitating the recent surge in migrant arrivals at their border. Allegations include assistance Russia provides migrants, including transportation, to aid their journey to Finnish territory.
In a strategic response to escalating irregular migration, Finland initially closed all but one of its border points - the Raja-Jooseppi - in November 2023. However, following a subsequent surge in migrant arrivals at the Raja-Jooseppi, this crossing was shut down on November 30. The Finnish Border Guard (RAIA) reported the arrival of approximately 900 asylum seekers, predominantly from countries like Kenya, Morocco, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen, from Russia in November.
At the time, PM Orpo asserted that these measures were crucial in addressing the growing challenges posed by Russia's strategic use of migration. "Russia's actions, instrumentalising people and directing them towards our border in severe winter conditions, cannot continue. Finland is committed to halting this," affirmed PM Orpo.
Despite reopening the Vaalimaa and Niirala border crossing points on December 14, the Finnish PM cautioned that a re-closure might ensue if conditions worsened. This eventuality came to pass. On their reopening, RAIA recorded an unprecedented influx of 93 irregular migrants at the Niirala border, the highest ever recorded for a single day at this location.
The Finnish Minister of Interior, Mari Rantanen, at that time, condemned Russia's continued use of migrants as a tool to destabilise the region. "This indicates the ongoing hybrid operation by Russian authorities against Finland, an act we unequivocally reject," stated Minister Rantanen.
As of October 2023, Finnish authorities have processed 3,568 asylum applications and 17,807 applications for temporary protection. The preceding year, 2022, saw 5,827 asylum applications and an additional 47,302 applications for quick security, primarily associated with the conflict in Ukraine.
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