Statements from Finnish border authorities or credible news sources.

Finland to Present Plan to Push Back Migrants at Russian Border, Says PM Petteri Orpo

May 21, 2024, 07:22 AM

Finland is set to present a plan to push back migrants at its border with Russia. The Finnish government has introduced a draft law that would allow it to stop migrants pushed by Russia to its eastern border. This move comes as part of Finland's response to Russia's hybrid campaign against European Union and NATO states, which includes the instrumentalization of vulnerable asylum seekers. The Finnish Prime Minister, Petteri Orpo, has indicated that the border may be carefully reopened partially once the new migration law is adopted. Finland closed its borders with Russia last year following an influx of Syrian and Somali migrants. Additionally, Finland is urging the European Union to find common measures to prevent instrumentalized migration, referring to the flow of migrants arriving from Russia without valid travel documents.