Russia's attempt to create migration crisis on border with Finland fails
Russia fails in attempt to create artificial crisis on Finland's border (Photo: Getty Images)
Russia's attempt to artificially create a migration crisis on the Finnish border seems to be failing due to the swift response from Finnish authorities, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo stated on November 27 that the Finnish government would close the last border crossing with Russia "if necessary" and announced the readiness to take additional unspecified measures in response to the migration crisis artificially created by Russia.
Earlier, Finland closed three border crossings on the Finnish-Russian border on November 23, leaving only the northernmost crossing open. Several other Finnish officials also supported closing the entire border with Russia.
A Russian insider source claimed that First Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration of Russia Sergei Kiriyenko instructed the head of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs, Vladimir Kolokoltsev, to gather migrants from the Middle East, Africa, and other regions to send them to the Finnish border.
The source complained that the Finnish border authorities did not allow the majority of migrants to cross the country's territory and that the Russian authorities now have to settle migrants in Russia.
Closing the Finnish border with Russia
Finland has begun blocking entry from the territory of Russia due to an influx of illegal migrants. The Finnish Border Guard has prohibited the entry of people traveling by bicycle through border checkpoints with Russia.
Earlier, Finnish border guards had to use tear gas when migrants attempted to illegally enter camps from Russia.
Since November 18, four border crossing points on the Finland-Russia border have been closed, and on November 22, the Finnish government decided to close almost all border crossings. Currently, only one border crossing point is operational in Lapland.
