Finland’s Interior Minister disclosed a concerning revelation on Tuesday, stating that “thousands” of migrants are awaiting the opportunity to cross into Finnish territory from Russia.
This revelation comes amidst Finland’s decision to close all border crossings with Russia late last year due to an increasing number of arrivals lacking valid entry documents into the European Union. Helsinki accuses Moscow of orchestrating the movement of migrants towards the border, a claim vehemently denied by the Kremlin.
Interior Minister Mari Rantanen refrained from divulging the source of the information regarding the waiting migrants on the Russian side but emphasized the potential societal threat posed by their influx.
While Finland’s border areas have experienced harsh winter conditions, Rantanen expressed concern that with the onset of spring and milder temperatures, more migrants may attempt to cross illegally.
The Finnish border authority reported a significant surge in asylum seekers, with over 1,300 individuals from countries like Yemen, Somalia, and Syria entering Finland from Russia between August and December of the previous year.
This surge contrasts starkly with the prior average of one person per day. Furthermore, approximately 160 of these migrants remain unaccounted for, possibly having continued their journey to other European countries.
As relations between Russia and Finland have soured following Finland’s decision to join NATO in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Finnish Interior Ministry has swiftly moved to draft legislation aimed at bolstering border security.
The proposed legislation seeks to address attempts by Moscow to exert pressure on Finland through manipulated migration flows. It underscores the urgency of fortifying border defenses and combatting potential security threats emanating from the border with Russia.
