Finland announced Wednesday that its eastern land border with Russia will remain closed indefinitely, citing ongoing security concerns related to what it describes as "instrumentalized migration."
The country initially shut its border in late 2023 following a surge in arrivals from nations such as Syria and Somalia. Finnish authorities accused Russia of deliberately directing migrants toward the border in retaliation for Finland’s accession to NATO—a claim Moscow denies.
"The risk that instrumentalized migration will resume and expand as seen previously remains likely," the Finnish government said in a statement.
Officials stated the closure would be regularly reassessed and only lifted when reopening no longer poses "a serious threat to national security or public order."
In support of the continued closure, Finland has implemented an emergency law allowing authorities to reject asylum applications from migrants crossing through its closed eastern frontier. These individuals may be turned back immediately.
"The government's decision on the closure of the border has been in force under the same conditions for about a year. This is why it was reasonable to reassess the content of the decision and its preconditions," the statement added.
In March, the government proposed extending a temporary one-year law—dubbed the "pushback border law" in Finnish media—that enables border guards to refuse entry to asylum seekers in designated zones if Finland's sovereignty is deemed under threat. The law, enacted in July 2024, may be applied for one month at a time in limited areas.
Legal experts have raised concerns that the law conflicts with Finland’s constitutional commitments and international human rights agreements. The government acknowledged these concerns but emphasized that the measures have been effective.
"Both the decision to keep the border closed and the temporary border security act have achieved their intended effect, and instrumental migration, which began in November 2023, has ceased for now," it concluded.
Finland’s indefinite border closure underscores the country’s firm stance on national security amid heightened geopolitical tensions and evolving migration dynamics.
Source: Daily Sabah
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
