MOSCOW, January 11 The Finnish government has decided to extend the deadline closing the border with Russia until February 11, Interior Minister Marie Rantanen said on Thursday.
The previous government decision to close the border was valid until January 14.
“The government today decided to extend the closure of the border with Russia until February 11. All border crossings will remain closed, not counting (railway – ed.) cargo transportation through the Vainikkala checkpoint,” she said at a briefing following the Cabinet meeting. The broadcast was carried out on the official YouTube channel of the government.
«The purpose of this decision is to stop illegal migration on the eastern border of Finland. Based on observations and information received by the border guard and other authorities, it became clear that illegal entry was carried out under the influence of foreign authorities or other entities. This phenomenon was also associated with international crime,» said a press release on the website of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the republic.
According to the department, illegal migration poses a serious threat to national security and public order in Finland, the report clarifies.
Finland began introducing restrictions on entry from Russia on November 9 last year amid an uncontrolled flow of refugees from third countries. From November 30 to December 13, all land border crossings with Russia were closed. Finland opened two border checkpoints on December 14 for a couple of days, then the government again decided to completely close the border from December 15 to January 14.
Earlier, the press secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov, commenting on the closure of Finnish checkpoints on the border with the Russian Federation, noted, that the Russophobic position that the leaders of this neighboring country have now begun to adhere to is deeply regrettable. Peskov also emphasized that Russian border guards comply with all instructions, “the border crossing is used by those who have the legal right to do so,” and far-fetched accusations are unacceptable for Moscow.