Finland will close half of its border crossings with Russia overnight from Friday to Saturday after accusing Moscow of allowing undocumented migrants to cross the border, the government said this Thursday.
“The government has decided to close the checkpoints of Vaalimaa, Nuijamaa, Imatra and Niirala,” Interior Minister Marie Rantanen said at a joint press conference with Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, accusing Russia of being “evil.”
On Wednesday, the Russian (Kremlin) president “deeply regretted” Finland’s plans to close its border with Russia, given the large number of illegal migrants crossing the border and in the context of rising tensions.
Relations between the two neighbors have deteriorated significantly since February 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine. The attack prompted Finland, concerned about its own security, to join NATO, an alliance that Moscow considers a threat.
“We deeply regret that the Finnish authorities have chosen the path of deliberate distancing from the good relations we had,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said when asked about Finland’s announcement on Tuesday that it was considering limiting border traffic. or even closing checkpoints with Russia. .
Finland’s prime minister accused Russia of deliberately allowing migrants to cross the border despite lacking valid documents, suggesting it was an attempt to destabilize his country.
Finland has a common border with Russia that is 1,340 kilometers long.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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