faced with migrants, Finland closes its border with Russia

Several dozen asylum seekers were stranded on Monday November 20 at the border between Russia and Finland. Helsinki has closed its main crossing points and accuses Moscow of an attempt at destabilization.

Most of the undocumented migrants, stranded on Monday November 20 at the border between Russia and Finland, arrived by bicycle to the border post. To find yourself faced with barriers and barbed wire. Dince November 17, it has been impossible to pass through and despite the cold, it is minus 10 degrees at night, there are already several dozen camped on site, around wood fires, waiting for a hypothetical reopening.

Of the 8 crossing points that Finland has on its border with Russia, the four most accessible and busiest, in the South-East, just opposite Saint Petersburg, are now closed. At least until February 18.

Iraqis, Syrians, Somalis and Yemenis

Finland wants counter what it considers to be an attempt to destabilize Russia. From the end of August, Finnish customs noted that the Russian authorities were letting more and more Iraqis, Syrians, Somalis and Yemenis pass without visas, whereas until now, they were turning back all undocumented immigrants. . This represents more than 400 people in a few weeks.

At the border, migrants even say they were transported free of charge from their country, without having any idea of ​​what they would find there. Exactly what Belarus did to the Polish border last year. In Brussels, the European Commission denounces a “shameful exploitation” by Moscow.

“This situation is not a surprise”

But Helsinki does not fall from the clouds. Finland has been preparing for this type of scenario for several months. “We prepared ourselves to suffer various acts of malice from Russia“, said Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo on Thursday, November 16.”this situation is not a surprise“.

Relations between Finland and Russia have never been very warm, but since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, they have become execrable. It was above all Finland’s accession to NATO last spring which triggered Moscow’s anger. The expansion of the Western alliance is seen as an attack on Russia’s security, the Kremlin has vowed it would take “countermeasures“.

But Finland knows itself to be fragile. She does not forget that in 1939, under Stalin, Soviet tanks went in like butter. The endless 1,340 kilometer border which crosses the forest and separates it from its neighbor is very difficult to secure. To protect itself, the country began in March to erect very high metal barriers over a 200-kilometer stretch.

Dual nationals, collateral victims

Moscow reacted on Friday November 18, explaining that Finland was committing a “serious mistake” Who “would destroy“bilateral relations.

But this closure also causes collateral victims: all dual nationals who live in Finland but who still have relatives in Russia, often elderly parents or grandparents whom they will not be able to see for the holidays. They demonstrated on Sunday to demand the reopening of the border.