Russia's attempt to engineer migration crisis on Finnish border collapses

Experts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) have pointed out that Russia's attempts to artificially spark a migration crisis on the Finnish border have fizzled as the Finnish authorities have taken swift measures. Source: ISW Quote: "Russia's attempt to artificially create a migrant crisis at the Finnish border appears to be failing due to Finnish authorities' swift response."

Details: Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo stated on 27 November that the Finnish government would close the last border crossing point with Russia "if necessary", adding that the country was ready to introduce additional measures in response to the Russian-made migration crisis.

Finland closed three checkpoints on the Finnish-Russian border on 23 November, leaving only the northernmost checkpoint operational. Several other Finnish officials also spoke in favour of closing the entire border with Russia. A Russian insider source claimed that Sergei Kiriyenko, First Deputy Head of the Russian Presidential Administration, had instructed Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev to gather migrants from the Middle East, Africa and other regions and bring them to the Finnish border.

The source lamented that Finnish border guards prevented most of the migrants from entering Finland and that the Russian authorities should now resettle them in Russia.

Support UP or become our patron!