Since November 30, the land border between Finland and Russia has been completely closed and the government has no longer given any deadlines. On the contrary, with the return of spring, Helsinki, which accuses Moscow of pushing migrants towards its border to destabilize the country, is further tightening restrictions. RFI went to the Raja-Jooseppi border post, in Lapland, the last to have closed.
From our special correspondent in Finland,
At the end of the road which winds quietly towards the east, among the pines, a gate blocks the entrance to the Raja-Jooseppi border post. The places appear to have been deserted, but the 1,340 km of the longest external border of the European Union remain well guarded: patrols by snowmobile, quad or on foot, and video surveillance. Since the start of the war Russia against theUkraine and especially the entrance to the Finland in NATO, tension has risen a notch between the two countries.
On November 30, 2023, this crossing point, the northernmost in the country, was the last to close in the wake of the others. No more passport controls and the ballet of automatic barriers. Before the restrictions and closure, dozens of people and vehicles passed through here every day. Now, with the exception of a few border guards, no one can enter here, explains Vesa Arffman, the head of the border guards of Raja-Jooseppi.
“No movement”
The silence that reigns is almost perfect, while spring is still struggling to break through in this white-padded decor. For six months, it has been completely calm: “The winter is so harsh around here, we haven’t noticed any movement », notes Vesa Arffman, hat on her head and regulation weapon on her belt. Only a few bears attracted by the herds of Finnish reindeer risk ignoring the yellow signs marking the border zone. In total, around thirty illegal entries have been recorded since the border closed.
Temporary at first, the border closure seems to be lasting. On April 4, the government announced a new extension “ until further notice “. According to the ruling coalition (right and far right), the situation has not changed. Helsinki still accuses Moscow of wanting to destabilize its country by “ exploiting immigration » and by facilitating access to the border for migrants without a visa. Allegations that Russia denies.
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“ The Russians let migrants pass who did not have visas, explains the head of the border guards. However, until then, we had an agreement: they were not supposed to let anyone pass without a visa. But something has changed. So, yes, in a way, you could almost say that the Russians were pushing asylum seekers towards the border. »
But does he think Russia has gone further in helping migrants get to the border? “ Asylum seekers arrived at Raja-Jooseppi with a bicycle because it is forbidden to pass on foot. But the closest big city is Murmansk, 300 km away! », he recalls. “ So, I can’t imagine that they came here by bike, with this weather, -20°C, and so little clothing! It’s unimaginable. »
Syrians, Iraqis, Afghans… On the last day the Raja-Jooseppi crossing point was open, 56 migrants from third countries crossed the border here, reports Vesa Arffman. “ We were the last border crossing open, so of course we felt some pressure. » In total, between August and the end of November 2023, more than 1,300 people without a visa entered Finland. A number which may seem modest, but which remains unusual for this country of less than 6 million inhabitants.
A way to “block asylum”
With the return of spring, Finnish Interior Minister Mari Rantanen, a member of the far-right True Finns party, said she feared pressure increases on Finland » while “ hundreds, even thousands of people [seraient] near the Finnish border on the Russian side “. The restrictions were therefore extended to maritime traffic to avoid entries through the Gulf of Finland.
“The law authorizes the closure of the border in a situation of acute risk for a short period. But after six months, we are entitled to wonder if six months constitutes a short period », Worries Jussi Laine, professor at the University of Eastern Finland and specialist on the Russian-Finnish border. “ Additionally, the legislation states that there must be concrete proof that the risk is “acute” and that closing the border is a last resort. For now, the risks are mainly of the order of the potential “, he believes. He adds : ” Closing the border does not solve the problem, but it is a way to send a message to both the Finns and Russia. »
And Helsinki wants to go further. To prepare for a possible reopening of the border, the government presented a bill on May 21 which plans to authorize pushbacks of migrants. New legal instruments are needed, said Prime Minister Petteri Orpo. The text provides in particular that in certain border areas, Finland could refuse to receive asylum applications for a maximum period of one month, in order to stem the arrival of undocumented migrants. Only certain groups of asylum seekers, such as minors or people with disabilities, would then be allowed to submit their applications in these areas, at the discretion of border guards.
Read alsoFinland prepares new measures against the arrival of migrants, against a backdrop of tensions with Russia
A ” instrumentalized migrant »entered Finland« would be expelled from the country without delay “, further underlined the government. For this specific case, the government will have to make a decision based on the “ completely exceptional situation “, from “ knowledge or justified suspicion » about the fact that a foreign state is trying to threaten Finland’s sovereignty and national security, he added. This would also require the approval of the country’s president.
“ This new law, for which the government is pushing, is in total violation of our international commitments, it is in contradiction with our own Constitution », protests Jussi Laine. For him, it is a way of “ block asylum “. To be adopted, the law must obtain a majority of votes (five-sixths) in the Finnish Parliament.
A population that sides with the government
In the nearest town, Ivalo, 50 km away, residents seem to have gotten used to seeing the border closed. The few passing Russian tourists who came all year round have disappeared, they no longer come to fill their shopping carts in the city’s supermarkets. Workers who commuted between the two countries had to find other jobs. “ We also used a lot of wood from Russia, and this was essential for our heating system in the commune of Inari, the power plant being powered by wood from Russia every day. », Specifies Tommi Kasurinen, the mayor of the municipality. “ Since the border has been closed, it has been complicated to find an alternative solution. »
Despite everything, the population here seems to agree with the government and not be so eager to see the border reopened. “ Like many people here in Ivalo, with the war in Ukraine, we don’t want to see Russians here until they stop attacking Ukraineestimates Tina Friman, who manages a local tourism agency. At the beginning of the war, when there were still Russians here, some put up stickers “ Ukraine » on their windshield at the supermarket. »
“ Generally speaking, we hope that the situation will return to normal. But we can’t reopen the border if it’s not the right time », underlines the mayor of Ivalo. “ We must be realistic and we must be prepared for any eventuality. »