The Finnish Government has plans to adopt temporary legislation that will permit the country’s border authorities to stop asylum seekers arriving via Russia from coming into the Nordic nation, according to Interior Minister, Mari Rantanen and Prime Minister, Petteri Orpo on Friday.
Finland had shut all crossings on its 1,340 km (830 mile) border with Russia in late 2023 amid the surging number of arrivals who lacked authentic documents to enter the European Union.
Some refugees have been arriving during the winter, however, and the government surmises that the numbers could increase significantly as temperatures get warmer in the spring.
Helsinki has accused Moscow of channelling migrants to the border, an allegation the Kremlin has since denied.
Meanwhile, the interior ministry has released a statement, saying:
“Finland must be ready for the possibility that Russia will exert extended pressure.”
