Finland is going to close four of nine crossing points on its border with Russia to stop the flow of migrants, as per Sky News.
Several Finnish officials, including Prime Minister Petteri Orpo and Interior Minister Mari Rantanen, said the crossing points would be closed from midnight on 17 November after Russia had started allowing undocumented travelers to access the border zone and enter crossing stations where they can ask for asylum in Finland.
Finnish President Sauli Niinisto linked Russia’s actions to Finland’s NATO membership in April and noted that the country must be prepared for “certain malice” from Russia due to its decision to join the Western military alliance.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, when asked about Finland’s decision on the border crossings, said Russian authorities “deeply regret that the leadership of Finland chose the path of deliberate distancing from the previously good nature of our bilateral relations”.
