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Finland considering closing all border crossings with Russia, prime minister says

According to Petteri Orpo, Finland may place the reception center for asylum seekers in one place

Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo AP Photo/Virginia Mayo

Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo

© AP Photo/Virginia Mayo

STOCKHOLM, November 14. /TASS/. Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo is mulling possibly closing some or even all checkpoints on the border with Russia due to the influx of illegal migrants from the Middle East, the Yle broadcaster reported.

"We may restrict border traffic, close some or even all crossing points or place the reception center for asylum seekers in one place," the prime minister said, commenting on reports of an increase in the number of people crossing the country’s eastern border without the required documents, Yle writes.

"The government’s message is clear. We want to ensure the security of our border," the prime minister said in this regard.

Earlier, Interior Minister Mari Rantanen said that the Finnish authorities had decided to start preparatory work to restrict traffic on the border with Russia. Helsinki has reported about 60 undocumented asylum seekers arriving at the eastern border this week. Last week, there were 71. According to the border service, they are not Russian citizens, but most of them are from the Middle East. Helsinki says it has discussed the problem with Moscow.

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