The border between Finland and Russia will remain closed until at least February 11. Helsinki has decided to extend the closure of its border crossings with its neighbor. The Finnish government accuses Moscow of deliberately allowing migrants to pass through to destabilize the country. Nearly a thousand asylum seekers have passed through since this summer, an unusual influx. Direct consequence: a passageway closes for migrants from Somalia, Iraq and Yemen. It is also very bad news for the thousands of Russians who live in Finland and find themselves cut off from their families.
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It’s been two months since Anna last saw her 76-year-old parents. Two months since she left Saint Petersburg, giving up her job at a private university, to join her husband and young son, living in Punkah-Ariou in the north of Finland.
“ I had to grab my stuff, my laptop, my phone, kiss my mom, my dad, and… leave for Finland », she confides to Julien Chavannefrom the International department.
In mid-November, Helsinki closed its border with Russia. For the thousands of Russians used to going back and forth between their families and their jobs, it is heartbreaking.
“ It’s very hard to talk about it… Because my mother needs her grandson close to her. It is a problem. If the Finnish government does not reopen the border, it will break up my family and our whole life. »
Anna calls her parents every day, at least half an hour. She does not understand why the government is not looking for other solutions. “ Why Estonia is not closing its border with Russia ? Why doesn’t Finland learn anything from its neighbors? I don’t understand. »
The border with Russia will remain closed at least until February 11. While waiting to be able to hug her parents again, Anna gives Finnish lessons to migrants.
Read alsoFinland closes its border crossings with Russia this Friday evening