Finland Continues Construction of Border Fence
Despite Finland’s ongoing construction of a 200-kilometre border fence at its eastern border, the country is considering implementing additional temporary barriers along the border with Russia to prevent irregular migration.
While the authorities have not confirmed this decision, it is possible that Finland will construct temporary barriers in sparsely populated areas near the Russian border, as reported by SchengenVisaInfo.com. The Finnish Border Guard has not disclosed the specific locations for these barriers, citing security reasons.
The Deputy Commander of the North Karelia Border Guard, Samuli Murtonen, emphasized that border protection is a comprehensive effort, involving patrols, physical barriers, and technical controls. Jukka Savolainen, from the European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats, expressed support for additional border measures, noting the vulnerability of the country’s eastern border.
In response to concerns about irregular migration, Finland has extended the closure of its border with Russia until February 11. During this time, the border will be closed to all individuals, and applications for international protection at border crossing points in the area will not be accepted. Instead, applications must be submitted at one of the country’s open border points.
This closure comes after Finland initially closed its border with Russia in December. The country has not ruled out the possibility of further extensions due to ongoing migration concerns. For more information on this topic, you can read about Finland’s investigation into organized illegal immigration at its borders.
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