Finland Shuts Down Four Border Crossings with Russia due to Surge in Undocumented Migrants
Greetings there, folks! So, guess what? Finland's government decided to close four border crossings situated in the southeast of the country, and they're pretty darn close to Saint Petersburg, Russia. Why, you ask? Let's dive into that juicy bit of info, shall we?
Prime Minister Petteri Orpo and Interior Minister Mari Rantanen announced the closure during a press conference. They said the Imatra, Niirala, Nuijamaa, and Vaalimaa border crossings will be closed starting from Saturday night. You might wonder, "Why such a distance from Saint Petersburg?" Fear not, amigo! The Finnish authorities have a plan to accept asylum applications at Salla and Vartius border stations, way up north.
Now, what's the reason behind this decision? Rantanen emphasized that this isn't about immigration policy but more so a reaction to Russia's actions. She even accused Moscow of allowing illegal entry into Finland back in December 2022! Gosh, how times do fly by, eh?
In recent days, the Prime Minister and Interior Minister noted a significant increase in border crossings. The border guard reported 75 asylum seekers, which was more than everyone registered in an entire week! That's quite the surge, wouldn't you say?
Estonia also shares a border with Russia, and its interior minister, Lauri Läänemets, reported that eight Somali citizens were denied entry due to the lack of documents. He added that there seemed to be more people attempting to cross the border, warning about the potential for the situation to worsen.
Fortunately, Finland and Estonia are working together to cope with this challenge. According to Lauri Läänemets, the Finnish government is sending out a clear message: "You simply cannot enter the European Union via Estonia like this."
So, there you have it, folks! The closure has led to an increase in illegal entry attempts, but undocumented migrants are still tryin' their luck. It's quite the geopolitical game of chess, ain't it?
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Additional Insights: - Finland and Estonia accuse Russia of deliberately flooding Western countries with migrants as a retaliatory tactic. - This strategy is part of a broader Russian attempt to destabilize Western countries through weaponizing migration. - Finland initially closed its border crossings to travelers from Russia in November 2022. The closure was extended until February 18, 2023, but two border crossings (Vaalimaa and one near Niirala) were due to reopen by January 14, 2025.
