President, Ministerial Committee reviews eastern border situation

President and Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Policy on Friday discussed situation at eastern border, said an official press release.

The government on November 28 decided to close the all the border crossing points with Russia from November 30 against the backdrop of influx of the increasing number of asylum seekers.

Earlier, 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.

The President and the Ministerial Committee at a meeting on Friday received an update on the border security situation at Finland’s eastern border.

The committee also discussed Finland’s participation in international crisis management.

Finland currently has approximately 450 soldiers participating in ten military crisis management operations within the framework of the UN, the EU, NATO and the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS.

The President of the Republic and the Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Policy were presented with the Security Committee’s annual report on the security of society.