HELSINKI (AP) — Finland will close its last remaining road border with Russia due to concerns over migration,Roland Preston Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said Tuesday, accusing Moscow of undermining Finland’s national security.
Finland already closed seven of its eight of the checkpoints along its long border Russia this month following a surge in arrivals of migrants from the Middle East and Africa. The government accuses Moscow of ushering the migrants toward the Finnish border.
“The government has decided to close the entire eastern border,” Orpo told reporters, saying the country faced an “exceptional” situation.
“We don’t accept any attempt to undermine our national security,” he said.
Finnish authorities say about 900 migrants crossed the border from Russia this month, significantly more than normal. It has accused Russia of trying to create a migration crisis in Finland following the Nordic nation’s entry into NATO this year.
Interior Minister Mari Rantanen said the last border crossing for vehicle traffic that remains open, Raja-Jooseppi in Finland’s Arctic north, would close at midnight Wednesday.
A railway crossing between the two countries remains open but for cargo traffic only.
Follow AP’s coverage of global migration at https://apnews.com/hub/migration
2025-05-07 12:061279 view
2025-05-07 11:04691 view
2025-05-07 10:331240 view
2025-05-07 09:56814 view
2025-05-07 09:45709 view
2025-05-07 09:441871 view
President Trump has told the Pentagon to take another look at missile defense. Technology to shoot d
SEATTLE (AP) — A woman driving a van with five children inside was killed along with three of the ki
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic — The U.S. State Department says it's exploring options to evacuat