Finland has taken the decision to close its borders with Russia as an unprecedented wave of migrants from the Middle East and Africa seeks entry into the Nordic nation.
The surge, officials claim, is not a mere coincidence but a deliberate move by Russia to retaliate against Finland’s recent NATO membership.
Since August, more than 900 migrants have arrived in Finland, with an astonishing 800 making the journey in November alone, according to official statistics.
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These asylum-seekers, originating from countries such as Syria, Yemen, Somalia, Iraq, and Afghanistan, have reached Finland without proper documentation, a departure from the past where such arrivals were sporadic.
Finnish authorities have accused Russia of orchestrating the surge, allowing migrants to travel without hindrance to the border. The sudden influx prompted the closure of four border checkpoints initially, followed by an additional three, leaving only one Arctic crossing point operational.
In response to the situation, Finnish soldiers have been deployed to erect barbed wire and concrete barriers along the border.
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Expressing concern over the “serious disruption of border security,” Prime Minister Petteri Orpo emphasised that the situation is under control.
However, to reinforce their efforts, Finland has sought assistance from the EU border agency Frontex. Dozens of officers and equipment are set to be deployed to the Finnish border to provide support.
The Kremlin has vehemently denied any involvement in encouraging the migrants and expressed regret over the border closures. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova suggested on Wednesday that Finland should have pursued a “mutually acceptable solution” rather than resorting to closing the borders.
Despite the denial, suspicions linger about Russia’s role in the sudden and coordinated movement of migrants towards Finland.
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