Finland closes almost all border crossings with Russia, the only one in Lapland remains open | outside

Helsinki suspects Moscow of orchestrating the migration crisis. He added: “Today the government decided to close new border posts. Only the Raja-Giuseppe post remains open,” Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Ørpo said in a press conference.

The Finnish Border Guard announced on Wednesday that Finland is requesting personnel and technical equipment from Frontex. Finnish media reported that the border guards officially requested the army to help install barbed wire barriers at the border posts. Project director Ismo Korki told the Lanin newspaper group that border guards have already begun erecting additional barriers at border posts with Russia, “not only at the northern border crossings but everywhere.”

European Commissioner Ylva Johansson said in the European Parliament on Tuesday evening that the European Commission is in constant contact with Finland and is ready to help. According to her, Finland has requested 60 officials from Frontex.

The Finnish government accuses Russia of allowing an increasing number of migrants, most of them from the Middle East, to cross the border with Finland without valid papers, where they apply for asylum. Over the weekend, Finland closed four border crossings in the Saint Petersburg region. Since then, it has only allowed asylum seekers to cross to the Vartius and Sala crossings, 100 kilometers north. In recent days, more and more asylum seekers have been registered there.