Finland tackles Russia's 'weaponised migration' by keeping eastern border closed
The Nordic nation shut its land border with Russia late last year, accusing its neighbour of weaponising migration by funnelling asylum seekers to the border to enter its territory.
by John Bevir · CNA · JoinFINLAND: Finland’s border with Russia remains closed indefinitely amid deteriorating ties.
The Nordic nation shut its land border with Russia late last year, accusing its neighbour of weaponising migration by funnelling asylum seekers to the border to enter its territory. Most of them were young men fleeing instability in places such as Syria, Yemen and Iraq.
The Kremlin has denied the accusations, although CNA has seen classified photos of men in Russian military uniform providing immigrants with bicycles for transport and ushering hundreds to the border.
SAFEGUARDING FINLAND’S NATIONAL SECURITY
Finland has been working on securing its eastern frontier by building fences along sections of the 1,300km-long border.
In July, Finland’s parliament approved a controversial law granting border guards the power to block asylum seekers crossing from Russia.
The Finnish border authority said more than 1,300 asylum seekers had entered Finland from Russia between August and December last year, 900 of them in November alone.
In comparison, the number before last August had averaged just one person daily.
The current situation is stable, said Colonel Mikko Lehmus of the Finnish Border Guard.
“But we know that risk levels are quite high, and the Russian Federation has the ability to conduct that kind of orchestrated immigration operation again,” he added.
“That’s why we need to maintain high preparedness and be ready to do efficient counter-measures on the eastern border as well as sea areas.”
At the eastern edge of the European Union, refugee charities are concerned about individuals now unable to use the border to seek refuge as well as the legality of the border closure.
“There are people in real need of asylum,” said Annu Lehtinen, executive director of the Finnish Refugee Council.
“These people and their human right to seek asylum should be always assessed on an individual basis, and this kind of law - which is a pushback law - in practice doesn’t recognise this right,” she added.
The Finnish government said the new law is about safeguarding Finland’s national security and sovereignty, and that they are seeking EU-level solutions to tackle what it calls instrumentalised migration.
CITIZENS CAUGHT UP IN DETERIORATING TIES
When CNA visited some of the border crossing points, security was tight. Within minutes of starting to film, guards arrived to check the crew’s paperwork.
This is the first time the border has been closed since the 1940s.
According to polls, three in four Finns have a negative view of their Eastern neighbour.
Dual Russian-Finnish citizens told CNA that they feel like collateral damage caught up in the worsening situation.
“In my opinion, real security happens when people can negotiate about things,” said Ekaterina Marova, who is part of the Alexander League Campaign Group to encourage better dialogue between the two sides.
“When borders and doors are closed, and no one is discussing anything, that is a very dangerous situation.”
Many Finns whom CNA spoke to believe Russia is happy that the border is shut, as it limits exit routes for those fleeing conscription for its war against Ukraine.
However, the Kremlin has said the border closure was hasty, and reflects Finland's anti-Russian position.
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