Finland announced on Wednesday that it will keep its eastern border with Russia closed until further notice, citing ongoing security risks.
The border was initially shut in late 2023 after a surge in migrants arriving from countries like Syria and Somalia. Finnish authorities have accused Russia of deliberately encouraging this migration as a form of pressure after Finland joined the NATO military alliance — a claim that Russia has denied.
In a statement, the Finnish government said, “There is still a strong possibility that migration could once again be used as a tool, just like before.”
The government also stated it would continue to monitor the situation and would consider reopening the border only when it no longer posed a serious threat to national security or public order.
To manage the situation, Finland has enacted an emergency law that allows it to reject asylum applications from migrants trying to cross the closed border and to send them back.
