Finland keeps border with Russia closed for now
Photo: Finland's Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen (Getty Images)
Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen has commented on the reopening of the border with Russia, according to Yle.
"For now, the border remains closed," Valtonen said.
She added that the reopening of the border might be reconsidered in the fall.
Migrants at Finland-Russia border
Last fall, Finland experienced a sharp increase in the number of migrants from Somalia and Iraq at its border with Russia. In response, Finland closed the border and recently extended the suspension of border crossing operations until further notice.
A journalistic investigation revealed that Russian security agencies were behind the influx of migrants. Available evidence suggests that the same agencies previously responsible for similar border provocations between Poland and Belarus were involved in orchestrating this crisis.
Finnish Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen had previously stated that Finland might reopen the border with Russia if a new law on border control restrictions is enacted.
