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Finland Moves To Block Asylum-Seekers From Entering Via Russia


Barriers are placed at the closed Vaalimaa border checkpoint between Finland and Russia in Virolahti, Finland, in January.
Barriers are placed at the closed Vaalimaa border checkpoint between Finland and Russia in Virolahti, Finland, in January.

Finland plans to adopt temporary legislation that will allow its border authorities to block asylum-seekers seeking to enter its territory from Russia, the government said. Finland closed all crossings on its 1,340-kilometer border with Russia late last year amid a growing number of arrivals who lacked valid documents to enter the European Union. However, a few asylum-seekers have continued to arrive and the government believes the numbers could rise significantly with the advent of spring and a rise in temperatures. Helsinki accuses Moscow of funneling migrants to the border, a claim the Kremlin has denied.

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