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Finland to shut down four checkpoints on Russian border

According to the government, it is necessary to "react decisively" to the growing number of third-country citizens coming to the eastern border recently, because this is an organized phenomenon, which poses a serious threat to the public order and national security

© Lehtikuva/Vesa Moilanen via REUTERS

STOCKHOLM, November 16. /TASS/. Finland will shut down four border checkpoints on Friday, Prime Minister Petteri Orpo announced at a press conference.

"Finland shuts down checkpoints on the eastern border," he said. ""They will be closed on the night from Friday to Saturday."

According to the government, it is necessary to "react decisively" to the growing number of third-country citizens coming to the eastern border recently, because this is an organized phenomenon, which poses a serious threat to the public order and national security. It was announced during the press conference that 280 migrants have asked for refuge this fall.

Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen specified that the checkpoints in question are located in Vaalimaa, Nuijamaa, Imatra and Niirala; the decision will remain in effect until February 18, 2024. According to the Finnish Border Guard, checkpoints in Vartius, Salla, Kuusamo and Raja-Jooseppi will remain open.

Russia will analyze the situation around Finland’s decision and the accusations made by Helsinki, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Yevgeny Ivanov told TASS.

"I believe these are very strange accusations. We will get to the bottom of this," the official said, commenting on Helsinki’s claims that Russia allegedly sends refugees to the border.

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