Finland completely closes its border with Russia for two weeks

Moscow accuses Helsinki of having signed agreements for the deployment of NATO troops on its territory

The Government of Finland has announced the complete closure of the border with Russia starting Thursday and for a period of two weeks in response to the current migration crisis in northern Europe and for which Helsinki directly accuses Moscow.

As reported by the Finnish Prime Minister, Petteri Orpo, at a press conference, the Raja-Jooseppi border crossing, the only one that was still operational, will close early Thursday morning until December 13, reports YLE radio and television.

"Russia has caused this situation and can also end it," added Orpo, who also recognized that this Government measure aims to control "Russia's hybrid influence activities" as soon as possible.

For her part, the Minister of the Interior, Mari Rantanen, has stressed that the total closure of the border with Russia is a "necessary" measure in the name of national security, although the Government has recognized that it has been a difficult decision to take. .

"The authorities have told us that the potential threat is quite large," acknowledged Rantanen, who has denounced that in third countries sales are made to Finland, even offering "travel packages" that include a supposed visa.

Thus, the Finnish Minister of the Interior has indicated that the number of migrants who aspire to enter European territory through Finland could rise to one million people, especially from African countries.

Finally, Rantanen has warned that among these people there could be individuals who are dangerous to national security, and recalled the situation in 2015, "when dangerous people arrived in Europe along with a fairly large number of immigrants."

For his part, the Minister of Justice, Tuomas Poysti, has justified the decision by arguing that the Government considers that in the current situation there are "very exceptional circumstances" and in response to which Helsinki must take measures.

"It is not an immigration problem, it is a matter of national security. And this has also been treated in our legality supervision," added Poysti, who stressed that the Executive tries to guarantee both national security and fundamental rights. .

The Finnish authorities have announced throughout November the closure of all border posts with Russia except for Raja-Jooseppi, located in the extreme north of the country and difficult to access due to the weather conditions in the area.

Helsinki has recorded a wave of more than 700 Russian asylum seekers in the month of November alone, some of whom have managed to cross the Russian side of the border even without having the necessary documentation in order.

RUSSIA ALERT OF NATO DEPLOYMENT

On the other hand, the Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia, Alexander Grushko, has assured that the Russian authorities have information that would confirm that Finland has signed agreements with the Atlantic Alliance for the deployment of troops in its territory.

As Grushko highlighted, Russia and NATO expanded their "contact zone" by more than 1,300 kilometers after Finland's accession to the bloc, a process that began with the Russian invasion of Ukraine and was certified at the beginning of April of this year.

"Finland must do what is required of other allies: take all necessary measures to admit foreign forces. We know that Finland has signed relevant bilateral agreements," said the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, reports the TASS agency.

Thus, Grushko has warned that Russia will take all necessary decisions to confront this "real change in the military situation", which is also accompanied by "a colossal burden of destabilization."