The government adopted these new restrictions at an extraordinary session on November 22, 2023. The decision will be in effect until December 23, 2023.
BY GOVERNMENT DECISION, all border crossings on the eastern border were centralized at the Raja-Jooseppi border crossing.
The government has decided to close the Kuusamo, Salla and Vartius border crossings on the eastern border as of Friday, November 24, 2023 at 00:00.
The decision will be valid until December 23, 2023.
“Traffic across Finland’s eastern border has continued despite the earlier restrictions and has also expanded to other border crossing points,” the Ministry of the Interior notes in a statement.
According to the assessment of the Finnish authorities and the government, instrumentalized migration from Russia and the escalation of the situation pose a serious threat to national security and public order.
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According to the observations and information received by the Border Guard and other authorities, it is clear that foreign authorities and other actors have played a role in facilitating the entry of persons across the border into Finland. The Russian authorities allow this to happen, which is a change from their previous practices.
“The situation also involves international crime,” the ministry notes.
Since the beginning of August, about 700 third-country nationals have entered Finland without visas through the border crossings on the eastern border. They then applied for asylum in Finland.
All eastern border crossings to be centralized in Raja-Jooseppi
Persons crossing the eastern border between Finland and Russia must use the Raja-Jooseppi border crossing for the duration of the decision. Finnish citizens must also use the Raja-Jooseppi border crossing. It will not be possible to apply for international protection at any other border crossing point on the land border between Finland and Russia.
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Decision based on the Border Guard Act
According to Section 16 of the Border Guard Act, the government may decide to close border crossing points for a fixed period or until further notice if it is necessary to prevent a serious threat to public order, national security or public health. The government may also decide to centralize the submission of applications for international protection at one or more border crossing points, if necessary.
The government is monitoring the situation on the eastern border in cooperation with the authorities. The decision will be revoked or amended if the situation changes.
The government decided on these new restrictions in an extraordinary meeting on November 22nd, 2023.
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Source: finlandtoday.fi
