Finland extends border closure with Russia indefinitely

HELSINKI. April 16 (Interfax) - The Finnish government has decided to extend its border closure with Russia for an indefinite period.

"The government has renewed its decision to close the checkpoints on the eastern border," the Interior Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

"The checkpoints will remain closed and the filing of applications for international protection will continue to be centralized, at border crossings in airports and seaports. The decision will remain in force until further notice," the statement said.

There remains a likelihood that with the opening of the border the so-called weaponized migration to the country will continue, it said.

The government decision comes into force on Thursday.

The Finnish government decided to close border with Russia in November 2023. The reason for closing the border was the so-called instrumentalized immigration when citizens of third countries tried to get from Russia to Finland seeking for asylum.

Initially declared a temporary measure, the border closure has since been extended several times.

In April 2024, the Finnish government said the border would remain closed "up until further notice" and the country's top officials then said repeatedly there were no plans to open the border yet.