Finland fights against illegal migration on its border with Russia. Travelers with valid documents are affected after several crossing points have been closed
Finland has closed four crossing points on its border with Russia to stop the flow of migrants. The Kremlin qualified the neighboring country's choice of the "confrontational way" as a mistake. At the same time, Helsinki does not exclude a complete closure of the border, if the situation does not improve in the next three months, and migrants without appropriate documents will continue to storm the checkpoints.
On the last day before the closure of the four border crossing points, the number of asylum seekers from the Russian Federation increased sharply: 163 refugees, out of a total of 335 since the beginning of the year.
"After the decision of the State Council, we noticed a sudden increase in the number of border crossings. The phenomenon of illegal immigration took the form of cyclists traveling without proper documents. 22 of them arrived here, in Nuijamaa", border policeman Jussi Vainikka says.
There were a few incidents. Finnish border police had to use tear gas against a group of about 30 people who disobeyed orders and tried to cross the border. The incident took place in Niirala. Tensions escalated between disappointed asylum seekers and Finnish border guards, leading to scuffles and brawls.
A similar situation took place at the Vaalimaa point, where 46 cyclists arrived, likewise, without the necessary documents. But the decision of the Finnish authorities causes citizens with valid travel documents a lot of trouble.
“My wife and my two sons live in St. Petersburg and I still don't know how I will return to Finland. I think through Estonia."
"It affects us quite a lot. The border will be closed until my visa expires. I think the innocent are suffering because of a few malicious people crossing the border."
"- Do you often go there? - Almost every day."
"In the east of Finland, there are people who live on both sides of the border and for them this decision is a problem, they will have to move through Vartius", the border policeman Jussi Vainikka mentions.
The Finnish authorities explained this measure by the need to combat the flow of migrants, which has increased sharply in recent weeks. Helsinki accuses Russia of "diverting" migrants to the border in response to Finland's firm orientation towards the West and NATO. The Russian Foreign Ministry described the Helsinki decision as destructive and warned that it "will lead to new lines of demarcation in Europe". Four checkpoints will remain closed for at least three months, five smaller ones are still open, but they are located further north in less accessible areas, and only two of them will be able to process asylum applications.
In Estonia, the border police are preparing for a possible closure of the border with Russia,too. Although the decision has not been taken yet, concrete slabs have already been brought to the border crossing points.
