Finland Considers Tightening Border Restrictions Amid Challenges in Returning Asylum Seekers

Finnish President Sauli Niinisto delivered a speech at the 78th United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York on September 20, 2023. Now, Finland has declared that it is no longer possible to deport asylum seekers who do not meet the criteria for protection. This announcement was made following a surge in migrants entering the country from Russia, particularly from Yemen, Somalia, Syria, and Iraq.

Over 500 asylum seekers arrived in Finland from Russia in the past two weeks, prompting the government to close half of its border crossings and accuse Russia of deliberately directing migrants toward its borders. President Niinisto emphasized during a state visit to Poland that the deportation of migrants who do not qualify for asylum has become unfeasible, making it a one-way journey for those who cross the border.

As a response to the situation, Finland has limited the entry points for asylum seekers on its 1,340-km border with Russia. This decision, according to Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, may be further escalated if necessary, with the remaining crossings potentially being closed.

The Finnish Border Guard has reported that many of the migrants who arrived did not initially intend to come to Finland. Instead, they were compelled to seek asylum after Russian authorities closed the border gates behind them, leaving them with no other choice in the matter.

This issue has caused tensions between Finland and Russia, with the Kremlin lodging a formal protest over the partial border closure, declaring it an anti-Russian act. In response, Finnish officials are insisting on implementing decisive actions to address the situation, with the possibility of further steps if the current circumstances persist.

This situation is reminiscent of the migrant crisis experienced by Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia in 2021, when they accused Belarus of orchestrating a migrant crisis at their borders. Belarus denied these allegations.

Overall, Finland is grappling with an influx of asylum seekers from Russia, leading to the government’s decision to restrict borders and call for a coordinated EU-wide solution to manage uncontrolled migration into the Schengen area. This story is ongoing and spurred considerable controversy in the region and beyond.

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