Finland-Russia border traffic likely to resume as asylum influx stops

The border traffic between Finland and Russia is expected to resume at the Raja-Jooseppi border crossing point as per the schedule stipulated on December 13 as there was no influx of asylum seeker from Russia on Friday for the second consecutive day.

Finnish Border Guard sources said that the situation at the border remained stable at this moment.

“Situation at Finnish-Russian land border is stable, at least for the moment. No asylum seekers at today (Friday). Phenomena of instrumentalized migration may be paused/stopped. Hopefully we can start opening border traffic in 2 weeks,” Matti Pitkäniitty, Head of International Affairs Unit of Finnish Border Guard wrote in a post in social media platform X late Friday night.

Finland closed the border crossing point of Raja-Jooseppi, the lone operative border crossing point with Russia from early November 30 night to December 13.

No asylum seeker arrived from Russia on Thursday, on the first day of the closure of entire land border.

The government on November 28 decided to close the border crossing against the backdrop of influx of the increasing number of asylum seekers.

Finland closed three more border crossing points- Kuusamo, Salla and Vartius- at the eastern border early November 24.

​The government took the decision on November 22.

But entry into Finland at the eastern border has continued despite earlier restrictions.

Earlier on November 18, Finland closed four border crossing points- at Vaalimaa, Nuijamaa, Imatra and Niirala at eastern border.

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 will be taken following the rapid increase in illegal entry at the eastern border.

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.