The Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo announced that Finland will completely close all land border crossings with Russia starting on November 30, reports Finnish news outlet Helsingin Sanomat. Raja-Jooseppi, the only crossing between Russia and Finland that remained in operation, will be closed.
The closure will be in effect until December 13 and does not apply to the Vainikkala railway crossing for freight traffic.
The Finnish authorities said this decision was in response to the increased flow of asylum seekers from Africa and the Middle East trying to enter Finland through the Russian border.
“This decision protects Finland’s national security against a Russia hybrid operation,” said the Finnish Interior Minister Mari Rantanen.
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