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Finland to close all checkpoints along border with Russia Friday — interior minister

15 December 2023 00:27 (UTC +04:00)

Finland has decided to once again close all crossing points along the border with Russia, Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen said, APA reports citing TASS.

"The border will be closed from tomorrow, Friday, December 15, 8:00 p.m. (6:00 p.m. GMT), and [the closing procedure] will be completed on January 14. <...> We have been able to state that illegal immigration on Finland's eastern border has continued," Rantanen said during a parliamentary question-and-answer meeting, broadcast on the Finnish Cabinet’s website.

"The Government has decided that since such entries into the country continue, it is necessary to adopt a government decree to close the Vaalimaa and Niirala checkpoints again," the Finnish Ministry of the Interior said in a statement. So, applications for international protection at Finland's external borders will only be accepted by border checkpoints at airports and seaports, it explained