Russia Accused of Sending Migrants Across Finland’s Border

Finland‘s Prime Minister, Petteri Orpo, has accused Russia of engaging in a ‘hybrid attack’ against Finland by consistently sending asylum seekers across the border. The Finnish government has temporarily closed all but one border crossing with Russia due to an influx of over 800 migrants from various countries. This increase in migrant numbers is seen as a retaliation by Russia for Finland’s decision to enhance defense cooperation with the United States. Finland’s integration into NATO earlier this year further strained relations with Russia.

Prime Minister Orpo emphasized that it is not solely an issue of asylum seekers, but a matter of national security. The Finnish government has closed several border stations, with only one remaining open in the Arctic region. However, they have not ruled out closing the entire eastern border if necessary. Interior Minister Mari Rantanen stated that those arriving from Russia without proper travel documents will be required to stay in supervised centers until their identities are established.

The remote location of the lone open border crossing, Raja-Jooseppi, has raised concerns about the rights of asylum seekers. Finland’s ombudsman for non-discrimination warned that without genuine and effective access to the asylum procedure, there is a risk of violating the ban on deportation and mass expulsion.

The Finnish Border Guard anticipates assistance from dozens of officers from the European Union’s border agency, Frontex, beginning next week. Patrols will focus on the 1,340 km border with Russia under the supervision of Finnish Border Guards. There are concerns that migrants may attempt to cross through forests along the frontier, and preparations are underway to monitor and surveil these areas.

Frontex already has nine border guard officers working in Finland and has announced plans to deploy an additional 50 officers, along with equipment such as patrol cars.

Norway, which shares a border with Russia to the north of Finland, has not yet experienced any irregularities. However, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere expressed readiness to take necessary measures to maintain order at the border. Estonia and Latvia have also accused Russia of engaging in ‘hybrid attack’ operations by sending migrants to their borders.