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Finland’s Border Guard chief says closure of entire border with Russia not ruled out

According to Pasi Kostamovaara, the situation is under control so far

© Lehtikuva/ Vesa Moilanen via REUTERS

STOCKHOLM, November 20. /TASS/. Chief of Finland’s Border Guard Pasi Kostamovaara has said the closure of the entire border with Russia is quite possible.

According to the Ilta-Sanomat newspaper, he said this when visiting the Vartius checkpoint on the border with Russia. He said that the border with Russia may be closed if the government makes a relevant decision. However, in his words, the situation is under control so far.

The Finnish Iltalehti newspaper said earlier on Monday, citing its sources, that the country’s authorities plan to close the entire border with Russian on Wednesday night. Early on November 18, Finland closed four border checkpoints on the eastern border - Vaalimaa, Nuijamaa, Imatre, and Niirala. In this way, according to Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, the authorities were reacting to the influx of nationals from third countries to the eastern border of Finland. As Finnish Interior Minister Mari Rantanen explained, the decision would stay in effect until February 18, 2024.

Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov expressed regret over potential closure of the rest of crossings on the border with Finland. Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Finland's decision to close part of the checkpoints on the border with Russia created new dividing lines in Europe. Moscow's response to these actions will be worked out in an interdepartmental way.

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