European Union official von der Leyen visits the Finland-Russia border to assess security situation
8 months ago

European Union official von der Leyen visits the Finland-Russia border to assess security situation

Associated Press  

COPENHAGEN, Denmark — The head of the European Union’s executive branch said Friday that Finland’s decision to close its border crossings with Russia over a surge in migrants is a security matter for the whole 27-member bloc to consider. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made the remarks during a trip to the frontier, visiting a part of the border located in southeastern Finland. We are in this together,” von der Leyen said after visiting the border in Lappeenranta with Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo. “We should be more Finnish when it comes to security.” Von der Leyen and Orpo flew in a Finnish helicopter over the landscape of forests and towns on the border. In a statement issued after the visit, Orpo said that “the spring’s warmer weather increases the risk of Russia helping people illegally try to get to Finland via the land border … outside the border crossing points.” Von der Leyen is campaigning as a member of the conservative European People’s Party bloc for a second term in office as head of the EU’s powerful executive branch.

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History of this topic

Finland will keep its border with Russia closed until further notice over migration concerns
8 months, 2 weeks ago

Finland will keep its border with Russia closed until further notice over migration concerns

Associated Press  

HELSINKI — Finland will extend the closure of its border crossing points with Russia beyond the current April 14 deadline “until further notice” due to a high risk of organized migration orchestrated by Moscow, the Finnish government said on Thursday. The Finnish Interior Ministry said in a statement that the Nordic country’s national security and public order would come under …

Finland extends Russia border closure until April 14 saying Moscow hasn’t stopped sending migrants
10 months, 2 weeks ago

Finland extends Russia border closure until April 14 saying Moscow hasn’t stopped sending migrants

Associated Press  

HELSINKI — Finland’s government said Thursday that it would extend the closure of its long border with Russia for another two months until April 14, because it sees no signs that Moscow was stopping its “hybrid operation” of funneling migrants toward the frontier with the Nordic nation. The government said in Thursday’s statement that “instrumentalized migration” from Russia poses “a …

Finland extends Russia border closure until April 14 saying Moscow hasn't stopped sending migrants
10 months, 2 weeks ago

Finland extends Russia border closure until April 14 saying Moscow hasn't stopped sending migrants

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Finland's government said Thursday that …

Finns go to the polls Sunday to elect a new president at a time of increased tension with Russia
10 months, 4 weeks ago

Finns go to the polls Sunday to elect a new president at a time of increased tension with Russia

Associated Press  

HELSINKI — Finns will vote Sunday to elect a new president at an unprecedented time: the Nordic nation is now a NATO member following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and its eastern border with Russia is closed, both almost unthinkable a few years ago. Unlike in most European countries, the president of Finland holds executive power in formulating foreign and security …

Finland extends closure of Russian border for another month, fearing a migrant influx
11 months, 1 week ago

Finland extends closure of Russian border for another month, fearing a migrant influx

Associated Press  

HELSINKI — Finland said Thursday it would extend the closure of its border with Russia for another month because it suspects Moscow is trying to undermine the Nordic country’s security by sending undocumented migrants across the frontier. Finland closed the border late last year after 1,300 migrants without proper documentation or visas had arrived across the frontier since September — …

Finland extends closure of Russian border for another month, fearing a migrant influx
11 months, 1 week ago

Finland extends closure of Russian border for another month, fearing a migrant influx

The Independent  

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Finland extends border closure with Russia until February 11
11 months, 2 weeks ago

Finland extends border closure with Russia until February 11

Al Jazeera  

Finland will extend the closure of its border with Russia by four weeks, until February 11. Finland’s 1,340km border with Russia serves as the European Union’s external border and is part of NATO’s northeastern flank. It shuttered all eight frontier posts with Russia late last year after accusing Moscow of encouraging asylum seekers and undocumented migrants to cross over. Last …

Finland reports a rush of migrant crossings hours before the reclosure of 2 border posts with Russia
1 year ago

Finland reports a rush of migrant crossings hours before the reclosure of 2 border posts with Russia

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Dozens of migrants crossed into …

Finland reports a rush of migrant crossings hours before the reclosure of 2 border posts with Russia
1 year ago

Finland reports a rush of migrant crossings hours before the reclosure of 2 border posts with Russia

Associated Press  

COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Dozens of migrants crossed into Finland on Friday, hours before the reclosure of two southern crossing points on the border with Russia as the Nordic country experiences an influx of asylum-seekers. The Vaalimaa and Niirala crossings had reopened briefly Thursday after being shut down at the end of last month, along with Finland’s six other posts on …

Finland to close again entire border with Russia as reopening of 2 crossing points lures migrants
1 year ago

Finland to close again entire border with Russia as reopening of 2 crossing points lures migrants

The Independent  

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Finland set to again shut its entire border with Russia
1 year ago

Finland set to again shut its entire border with Russia

Al Jazeera  

Finland will close its eastern border with Russia, the country’s interior minister has said, just hours after the Nordic nation relaxed a two-week closure of all roads between the two countries. Approximately 900 asylum seekers from nations such as Kenya, Morocco, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria and Yemen entered Finland from Russia in November, an increase from fewer than one per day …

Finland to partially reopen border with Russia
1 year ago

Finland to partially reopen border with Russia

Firstpost  

Following an influx of migrants in mid-November, Finland closed four of its eight border crossings with Russia, before restricting passage only to the northernmost crossing. That too was closed by the end of November Finland’s prime minister announced on Tuesday that the country will reopen two border crossings with Russia. “The government has today decided to keep the eastern border …

Finland closes last crossing point with Russia, sealing off entire border as tensions rise
1 year ago

Finland closes last crossing point with Russia, sealing off entire border as tensions rise

Associated Press  

HELSINKI — NATO member Finland on Wednesday closed its last remaining border crossing with Russia after the government decided to seal the entire border with its eastern neighbor amid rising political tensions. The Cabinet of Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo decided to temporarily close the entire 1,340-kilometer border between the two countries a day earlier over concerns that Moscow was …

Finland Will Close Its Border With Russia Over Migrant Concerns
1 year ago

Finland Will Close Its Border With Russia Over Migrant Concerns

News 18  

Finland said Tuesday it will close its last remaining border crossing with Russia amid concerns that Moscow is using migrants as part of “hybrid warfare” to destabilize the Nordic country following its entry into NATO. “The government has decided to close all the crossing points on the entire eastern border,” Prime Minister Petteri Orpo told reporters, saying Finland faced an …

Finland will close its entire border with Russia over migrant concerns
1 year ago

Finland will close its entire border with Russia over migrant concerns

Associated Press  

HELSINKI — Finland said Tuesday it will close its last remaining border crossing with Russia amid concerns that Moscow is using migrants as part of “hybrid warfare” to destabilize the Nordic country following its entry into NATO. Finnish Border Guards escort migrants arriving at the Raja-Jooseppi international border crossing station between Russia and Finland, in Inari, northern Finland, Saturday, Nov. …

Finland will close its border with Russia over migrant concerns
1 year ago

Finland will close its border with Russia over migrant concerns

LA Times  

Finnish Border Guards escort migrants arriving at the Raja-Jooseppi border crossing between Russia and Finland on Saturday. Finland said Tuesday it will close its last remaining border crossing with Russia amid concerns that Moscow is using migrants as part of “hybrid warfare” to destabilize the Nordic country following its entry into NATO. “The government has decided to close all the …

Finland to close border with Russia for two weeks
1 year ago

Finland to close border with Russia for two weeks

Al Jazeera  

Helsinki accuses Moscow of funnelling asylum seekers to the border in retaliation for its decision to join NATO. Finland will close its entire border with Russia to travellers for the next two weeks in a bid to halt the unusually large flow of asylum seekers to the Nordic nation, which the government and its allies say is an orchestrated move …

European Union to send border police to Finland over fears Russia is behind a migrant influx
1 year, 1 month ago

European Union to send border police to Finland over fears Russia is behind a migrant influx

LA Times  

Finnish border guards escort migrants at the border crossing between Finland and Russia in Salla, Finland, on Thursday. The European Union’s border agency said Thursday that it will send dozens of officers and equipment as reinforcements to Finland to help police its borders amid suspicion that Russia is behind an influx of migrants arriving to the country. Hans Leijtens, executive …

EU deploys border agents to Finland amid increase in asylum seeker arrivals
1 year, 1 month ago

EU deploys border agents to Finland amid increase in asylum seeker arrivals

Al Jazeera  

Finland has accused Russia of pushing asylum seekers to its eastern border, which Russia denies. The European Union’s border protection agency, Frontex, is set to deploy 50 officers to Finland after an increase in asylum seeker arrivals at its eastern border with Russia. Frontex said on Thursday that in addition to border guard officers and other staff, the agency would …

Finland erects barriers at border with Russia to control influx of migrants, closes crossing points
1 year, 1 month ago

Finland erects barriers at border with Russia to control influx of migrants, closes crossing points

Associated Press  

HELSINKI — Finnish border guards and soldiers began erecting barriers including concrete obstacles topped with barbed-wire at some crossing points on the Nordic country’s lengthy border with Russia to better control an influx of migrants, officials said Wednesday. The Kremlin has voiced regret about Finland’s decision to close the checkpoints and rejected Finnish authorities’ claims that Russia has encouraged the …

Finland to close all but one of its border crossings with Russia
1 year, 1 month ago

Finland to close all but one of its border crossings with Russia

Al Jazeera  

Helsinki accuses Moscow of weaponising desperate refugees and migrants in retaliation for its recent entry into NATO. Finland has announced it will close all but one of its border crossings with Russia after a rise in the arrivals of refugees and migrants whom the government claims Moscow is intentionally pushing to the country’s frontiers. After the recent closures, arrivals shifted …

Finland erects barriers at border with Russia to control influx of migrants
1 year, 1 month ago

Finland erects barriers at border with Russia to control influx of migrants

LA Times  

Finnish border guards and soldiers have begun erecting barriers, including concrete obstacles topped with barbed wire, at some crossing points on the Nordic country’s long border with Russia to better control the flow of undocumented migrants, officials said Wednesday. Tirkkonen’s district monitors and surveils two of Finland’s nine crossing points on the border with Russia, which runs 830 miles, serves …

Finland’s prime minister hints at further border action as Russia protests closings of crossings
1 year, 1 month ago

Finland’s prime minister hints at further border action as Russia protests closings of crossings

Associated Press  

STOCKHOLM — Finland’s prime minister on Monday said the country may need to take further actions on its border with Russia after closing four border crossings in an attempt to stem a recent increase in asylum-seekers. “The situation has progressed in a bad direction,” Prime Minister Petteri Orpo was quoted as saying by Finnish public broadcaster YLE during a visit …

Finland to block border amid Russian ‘instrumentalisation of migrants’
1 year, 1 month ago

Finland to block border amid Russian ‘instrumentalisation of migrants’

Al Jazeera  

At midnight ‘devices to prevent entry’ will go up at four of the border crossings between the European neighbours. Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said that amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Moscow was seeking to destabilise his country in response to Helsinki’s decision to join NATO. I fully support the measures taken by Finland,” von der Leyen said on X. …

Finland will close 4 border crossings with Russia, accusing Moscow of organizing a flow of migrants
1 year, 1 month ago

Finland will close 4 border crossings with Russia, accusing Moscow of organizing a flow of migrants

Associated Press  

HELSINKI — Finland will close four crossing points on its long border with Russia to stop the flow of Middle Eastern and African migrants that it accuses Moscow of ushering to the border in recent months, the government said Thursday. “Operations of the Russian border authorities have changed,” Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo told reporters, adding that the four crossings …

Finland to shutter border crossings with Russia to deter asylum seekers
1 year, 1 month ago

Finland to shutter border crossings with Russia to deter asylum seekers

Al Jazeera  

Finland accuses Russia of trying to destabilise the country by encouraging undocumented migration. Finland says it will close four of its eight border crossings with Russia where it has seen a surge in asylum seekers, accusing Moscow of turning a blind eye to undocumented people from mainly Africa and the Middle East to destabilise the country. Interior Minister Mari Rantanen …

Finland will close 4 border crossings with Russia, accusing Moscow of organizing flow of migrants
1 year, 1 month ago

Finland will close 4 border crossings with Russia, accusing Moscow of organizing flow of migrants

LA Times  

The Nuijamaa border crossing in Lappeenranta, Finland, is one of four the Finnish government is closing along the Russian border. Finnish authorities said this week that Russia has in recent months started allowing undocumented travelers to access the border zone and enter crossing stations where they can request asylum in Finland. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, asked Wednesday about Finland considering …

Finland accuses Russia of leading asylum seekers to its border
1 year, 1 month ago

Finland accuses Russia of leading asylum seekers to its border

Al Jazeera  

Finnish authorities record a sharp rise this week in number of asylum seekers arriving over its border with Russia. The Finnish Border Guard said on Tuesday that the number of arrivals from Russia has soared this week with about 60 asylum seekers coming since early on Monday. Interior Minister Mari Rantanen said the number of crossings at Finland’s southeastern border …

Finland doubling NATO’s border with Russia in blow to Putin
1 year, 8 months ago

Finland doubling NATO’s border with Russia in blow to Putin

Associated Press  

BRUSSELS — The blue-and-white Finnish flag rises outside NATO headquarters Tuesday afternoon, making Finland a member and doubling Russia’s border with the world’s biggest security alliance. “It will be a good day for Finland’s security, for Nordic security, and for NATO as a whole,” Stoltenberg told reporters on Monday on the eve of a meeting of alliance’s foreign ministers in …

Finland PM: Wide political support for Russia border fence
2 years, 2 months ago

Finland PM: Wide political support for Russia border fence

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Finland’s prime minister said Tuesday …

Finnish border closed to Russians with tourist visas
2 years, 2 months ago

Finnish border closed to Russians with tourist visas

Associated Press  

COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Finland’s border with Russia was closed to Russians with tourist visas Friday, curtailing one of the last easily accessible routes to Europe for Russians trying to flee a military mobilization aimed at bolstering the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine. Among the last to enter Finland were two cyclists who arrived a little before 11 p.m., Finnish broadcaster YLE …

Video: Russia-Finland border traffic rises, 35km tailback after Putin's move
2 years, 3 months ago

Video: Russia-Finland border traffic rises, 35km tailback after Putin's move

Hindustan Times  

Traffic on the eastern Finnish border with Russia increased over night on Wednesday said the Finnish border guard in a tweet adding that the surge in activity continued on Thursday morning as well. Finnish border guard's head of international affairs Matti Pitkaniitty said that despite busier than normal traffic situation was under control. Videos shared on social media, however showed …

Finland, Sweden brush off Moscow’s warning on joining NATO
2 years, 9 months ago

Finland, Sweden brush off Moscow’s warning on joining NATO

Associated Press  

HELSINKI — Finland and Sweden have brushed off warnings from neighboring Russia that their possible joining of NATO would trigger “serious military-political consequences” from Moscow for the two countries. Haavisto’s words were echoed by the Finnish President Sauli Niinisto who said on Friday that he didn’t see the statement meaning Moscow was threatening Finland militarily but rather what kind of …

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