MOSCOW, April 7 In Helsinki, Tampere and Lappeenranta there were small demonstrations demanding the opening of the border with Russia, the public broadcaster Yle reported.
The Back to normal action was carried out by the Alexander Society and was coordinated with the police. In total, according to the organizers, 100-110 people took to the streets in Helsinki, about 30 in Tampere, and 70-80 in Lappeenranta.
The demonstrations passed quietly, no incidents were reported.
Earlier on Thursday, the Finnish government decided to extend the closure of the border with Russia until further notice. The previous measure was in effect until April 14.
Finland began introducing restrictions on border crossings from November 2023 amid an uncontrolled flow of refugees from third countries, which Helsinki blamed on Moscow. The official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Zakharova, rejected statements addressed to Russia about involvement in the migration crisis in the European Union, calling such accusations double standards of the West.
Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov, commenting on the closure of Finnish checkpoints on the border with Russia, noted that the Russophobic position, which the authorities of the neighboring country have now begun to adhere to is deeply regrettable. The Kremlin representative stressed that Russian border guards comply with all instructions, “the border crossing is used by those who have a legal right to do so,” and far-fetched accusations are unacceptable for Moscow.