208 seek asylum on last day as Finland closes all borders with Russia

Finland has closed all the border crossing points at eastern border late Friday night as influx of asylum seekers from Russia continued.

The border crossing points at Vaalimaa and Niirala were closed at 8:00 pm as per the government´s decision taken on December 14.

Meanwhile, a total of 208 asylum seekers arrived in Finland from Russia on Friday, on the last opening day of the border crossing, Finnish Border Guard sources said.

“Today (Friday) was second day when Vaalimaa and Niirala border crossing points were open. 124 persons sought asylum in Vaalimaa and 84 in Niirala,” Matti Pitkäniitty, Head of International Affairs Unit of Finnish Border Guard wrote in a post in social media platform X late Friday night, adding that from now all road border crossing points at Finnish-Russian land border will be closed until January 14, 2024.

On Thursday, on the first day of resumption of border crossing, 121 asylum seekers arrived at the Vaalimaa and Niirala border crossing points.

Earlier on Thursday, the Finnish government decided to close all the border crossing points with Russia again just after one day of resumption of border crossing points of Vaalimaa and Niirala at eastern border.

The government on December 12 decided to resume two border crossing points at eastern border from December 14.

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.