Finland’s parliament has enacted a new law granting border guards the authority to prevent asylum seekers from entering the country from Russia. This legislative move comes after more than 1,300 individuals arrived in Finland, prompting Helsinki to close its border. Finnish authorities have accused Russia of using migration as a tool of pressure by directing a significant number of migrants from Syria and Somalia to cross into Finland, an allegation that the Kremlin denies.
Since last summer, over 1,300 asylum seekers have crossed the Finnish-Russian border. However, there had been no new entries since March until a recent incident on Thursday when a person entered Finland unlawfully and sought asylum upon being apprehended by the Finnish Border Guard. Following the law’s passage, the Finnish Border Guard released a statement confirming this event.
Finland had already shut its land borders with Russia late last year. Interior Minister Mari Rantanen, speaking at a press conference after the bill’s passage, indicated that no decision had yet been made regarding the reopening of the border crossings with Russia. This legislative action is similar to measures taken by other European countries, such as Poland and Lithuania, which have also sought to tighten their borders to curb migrant crossings from Russia and its ally Belarus.
The Finnish bill was approved with a significant majority, receiving 167 votes in favor, 31 against, and one abstention. For the proposal to pass, it required a two-thirds majority of the votes cast in the 200-seat parliament. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo has advised migrants considering traveling to Europe through Russia to reconsider their plans.