08 may 2024 — 12:00
The border between Finland and Russia may open after the entry into force of the refugee law, Finnish Defense Minister Antti Hyakkianen told the local newspaper Etelä-Saimaa, RIA Novosti reported.
"The border may open to passenger transport if a new "exceptional law" is adopted," he said.
We are talking about a bill that will limit the admission of asylum seekers arriving from the Russian border. According to the minister, the law will be submitted to Parliament for consideration within one to two weeks, after which it will enter into force as soon as possible.
The border between Finland and Russia is closed by decision of the Finnish authorities until further notice. Finland began imposing restrictions on border crossings in November 2023 amid an uncontrolled flow of refugees from third countries. Finnish authorities have repeatedly accused Russia of purposefully sending asylum seekers to the border. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova rejected accusations against Russia of involvement in the migration crisis in the European Union, calling them double standards of the West.
The press secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov, commenting on the closure of the Finnish checkpoints on the border with the Russian Federation, noted that the Russophobic position, which the leaders of this neighboring country have now begun to adhere to, is deeply regrettable. Peskov stressed that Russian border guards comply with all instructions, "those who have a legitimate right to do so use the border crossing," and far-fetched accusations are unacceptable to Moscow.