Finland expects to open border with Russia by Christmas - media

HELSINKI. Nov 23 (Interfax) - Finland expects that seven of the eight border crossings with Russia will be reopened by Christmas, that is, earlier than the previously announced date of February 18.

"The government's decision made on Wednesday on closing nearly all crossings on the eastern border cancelled the previous decision to close the Vaalimaaa, Nuijamaa, Imatra, and Niirala border posts until February 18, 2024," the Yle website said on Thursday.

"It was decided that the time limit of about one month would be right, considering the tight restrictions," Yle quoted Rear Adm. Markku Hassinen, chief of the Finnish Border Guard, as saying.

Yle said the tight restrictions implied the fact that nearly all of Finland's eastern border was closed.

On November 18, Finland closed four of its border crossings in the southeastern part of the country on the grounds that Russia let multiple immigrants from third countries pass toward the Finnish border.

The Finnish government decided on Wednesday to close three more border crossings until December 23, leaving only the northernmost one, Raja-Jooseppi, still functioning, as the influx of asylum seekers has not recently subsided.

Hassinen said the government was assessing the effects of the border closure and making the necessary decisions on an ongoing basis.

"In practice, if no amendments are made to Wednesday's decision, it will expire by Christmas. I personally have the impression that the decision could possibly be reviewed earlier," he said.