Government Closes Entire Eastern Border for Two Weeks; PM Orpo: Russia Created It. It Can End It.
The decision means that all border crossing points on the land border between Finland and Russia will be closed until December 13.
THE GOVERNMENT has decided to close the entire eastern border. The decision will take effect on the night between Wednesday and Thursday at 00:00.
The government made the announcement at a press conference on Tuesday. Before that, the government met for a general session.
Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP) stressed at the press conference that the phenomenon (where undocumented asylum seekers arrive at the border in masses) is a threat to national security and that asylum applications at the eastern border will now be restricted for a short period.
Prime Minister Orpo was asked, what happens if the border is opened later and new asylum seekers arrive and the phenomenon expands again?
Orpo said that it would be best if there were no need to revert to restrictions. “That would be in the interests of Russians living in Finland.”
Read also: Finland Closes Parts of Southeastern Border
“Russia created this situation,” Orpo said. “It can also put an end to it.”
Source: finlandtoday.fi
