The videos obtained by show how migrants get bicycles right next to the checkpoint of the Russian border authorities.
Another of the videos also gives indications that there are still at least dozens of migrants trying to get to Finland near the Vartius border station.
has located the videos at the Russian border control point, which is located about 50 kilometers east of the Vartius border station near the town of Kostamus. According to ‘s information, migrants are picked up at this very place.
Foreigners should not pass through it without valid travel documents. However, some of the people visible in the videos have already reached Finland.
has not learned the identity of the videographer or photographers. publishes the videos because they provide significant additional information about the activities of the Russian authorities.
Bicycles for distribution at the border control point
The video at the beginning of this story shows twenty people walking towards a checkpoint. A little before the checkpoint, a dozen people get bicycles from a van. More people can be seen at the checkpoint.
has been told that the video was filmed today, Sunday. has not been able to confirm this claim.
The head of the Vartius border guard station Jouko Kinnusen there may still be many people aspiring to Finland in Russia.
– We have various rumors from other passengers on the cross-border traffic about several dozen or even hundreds of people in the nearby areas of Kostamus, says Kinnunen.
If the video was actually shot on Sunday, it supports the information Kinnusen tells. Only 16 asylum seekers have arrived across the Vartius border crossing on Sunday.
The second video shows people who have reached Finland
The second video that obtained was probably shot on Saturday.
The video shot at dark shows a van and migrants carrying bicycles. Bicycles also lead to loud conversations and chatter.
‘s reporter has identified two people from the video who arrived in Finland at the Vartius border station on Saturday.
According to Russia’s own rules, these people should not have passed through the checkpoint.
has located the videos at the Russian border inspection station located in front of Kostamus. It is located at an intersection with a large Orthodox cross as a recognizable landmark. The cross can be seen in both videos published by .
Kostamus is located in the border area of Russia, which is guarded by a border guard under the security service FSB. The border area extends up to 50 kilometers east of the border.
Foreigners should not be able to pass through the border checkpoint to Kostamus and the Finnish border without valid travel documents and a Schengen visa.
Also the head of the Vartius border guard station Jouko Kinnunen confirms that Russian authorities are still allowing people to cross the border without the required travel documents.
Videos also in the Russian media
Another of the videos obtained by and several photos from the same place was also published in Russian on Sunday on the Daily Karelia news site. According to the site, the images are from social media.
According to the website, there would be dozens of migrants in front of Kostamus, whom the authorities would not allow further into the city.
This claim does not seem to be true. Immigrants have ended up in both Finland and Kostamus.
The Russian Karelia police said on Saturday In his Telegram, that 14 people were arrested in Lahdenpohja district on Tuesday. According to the police, they are moving in the border area without a visa and the authorities have made an emergency decision to deport the persons.
The police did not say where the persons would be deported.
Migrants have stayed in hotels in Kostamus
called five hotels in Kostamus. Hotels Nord, Fregat and Podkova answered that no migrants have been seen walking towards the border in the cityscape, but citizens of a third country have been staying in Kostamus during the past week.
It was confirmed from one hotel that at least 17 third-country nationals stayed in the hotel this week.
Virkalilja said that the visitors arrived at the hotel by taxi, checked into the hotel without a reservation and paid for the room in cash.
According to the reception clerk, some of the visitors had arrived in Kostamus from St. Petersburg.
The hotel official could not give more detailed information about the time or the nationality of the arrivals, but he said that there were, for example, Somalis among those staying.
Right now, no migrants have been accommodated in the hotels, it was reported from the three hotels.
One hotel reported that inquiries about available rooms have increased recently.
Citizens of third countries have also booked hotel rooms, one official said.