HELSINKI (AP) — Finland will close its last remaining road border with Russia due to concerns over migration, 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
2024-12-25 21:02479 view
2024-12-25 20:21131 view
2024-12-25 20:08231 view
2024-12-25 19:541215 view
2024-12-25 19:382413 view
2024-12-25 19:301700 view
THOMASTON, Maine (AP) — Kaja Veilleux has been hunting New England attic treasures for more than 50
"Does somebody need a hug?" Or maybe just a cozy blanket, some hot cocoa and "Elf" on the TV.There a
DETROIT (AP) — A Detroit emergency medical service paramedic, who was later found to be under the in