2 asylum seekers arrive from Russia after border closure

Two asylum seekers arrived in Finland after closures of border crossing points completely with Russia late Friday night, said Finnish Border Guard on Sunday.

“After closing Vaalimaa and Niirala border crossing points on Friday evening at 20:00, two persons have illegally crossed Finnish-Russian land borded and sought asylum. Situation is stable. Border Check Points will remain closed until 14.1.2024,” Matti Pitkäniitty, Head of International Affairs Unit of Finnish Border Guard wrote in a post in social media platform X late Sunday night.

The government on December 14 decided to close all land border with Russia.

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.