Govt to move again as proposal for closure of more borders rejected

The government on Tuesday decided to prepare a fresh proposal to take further action to limit border crossing points with Russia as the Deputy Chancellor of Justice has rejected a ministry proposal in this regard.

Deputy Justice Chancellor Mikko Puumalainen rejected the proposal citing that proposal did not protect the asylum seekers' rights properly, government sources and local media said.

The Ministry of Interior made the proposal to close down the remaining four border crossing points against the backdrop of continuation of influx of asylum seekers from Russia.

Following the rejection by the Deputy Chancellor of Justice, the Interior Minister Mari Rantanen said that preparations of a new proposal to take further actions at the border were underway.

“The Ministry of the Interior continues to prepare proposal related to the border so that we can find out effective solution to this issue,” the minister wrote in a post in Finnish in social media platform X late Tuesday night.

Meanwhile, 61 asylum seekers arrived in Finland through Vartius and Salla border crossing points from Russia on Tuesday, said Finnish Border Guard.

(Today (Tuesday) 20 asylum seekers arrived to Vartius border crossing point in Kainuu and 41 to Salla border crossing point in Lapland with bicycles,” Matti Pitkäniitty, Head of International Affairs Unit of Finnish Border Guard wrote in a post in social media platform X late Tuesday night.

Finland closed four border crossing points at eastern border on November 18.

Finland closed border crossing points at Vaalimaa, Nuijamaa, Imatra and Niirala of eastern border at midnight for the next three months. Now border crossing points with Russia remain open at Vartius, Kuusamo, Salla and Raja-Jooseppi.

The government on November 16, decided to close part of Finland's eastern border with Russia.

The government on November 15 at a meeting decided that measures to ensure border security following the rapid increase in illegal entry at the eastern border will be taken on Thursday.

Earlier on November 14, the Ministry of the Interior said, the government may decide to restrict cross-border traffic or to close border crossing points at eastern border with Russia against the backdrop of the influx of increasing number of asylum seekers.