Ombudsman censures border crossing points closure with Russia

The Non-Discrimination Ombudsman of Finland, Kristina Stenman on Friday criticised the government´s decision to close all border crossing points excepting one with Russia.

Terming the decision as very risky for the fundamental rights of people to seek asylum, the ombudsman in a statement said that Finland has signed international agreements to protect the rights of people to seek asylum and if there is no genuine and proper access to the asylum procedure, there is a clear risk of violation of the principle of non-refoulement.

"The right to seek asylum, the principle of non-refoulement and the ban on collective expulsion are main principles in EU law and the Finnish legal system. If there is no genuine and proper access to the asylum procedure, there is a clear risk of violation of the principle of non-refoulement and the ban on collective expulsion," Stenman said.

The ombudsman emphasised that Finland's laws should be interpreted and implemented ensuring that the laws would not be conflicting with international obligations regarding individuals right to seek protection.

Finland closed three more border crossing points- Kuusamo, Salla and Vartius- at the eastern border early Friday night against the backdrop of increasing number of asylum seekers from Russia.

With closures of these three, the border crossing with Russia will remain open only at the Raja-Jooseppi border crossing point.