Finland to Build Barriers on Its Border with Russia

The authorities in Finland are planning to amend their legislation to allow the construction of barriers on the eastern border with Russia. This was reported by Reuters.

The border area between Russia and Finland, which spans 1,300 kilometers, is currently marked only by signs and lines.

In addition to creating obstacles, the legal amendments suggest that applications for political asylum will only be possible at certain entry points (currently, migrants can do this at any crossing point within the European Union). The new law also allows for the construction of new roads that will enable border guards to patrol the border more effectively.

According to the agency, Helsinki is concerned that Russia may send a large number of migrants to the Russian-Finnish border, artificially creating a humanitarian crisis and thereby putting pressure on Finland, which plans to join NATO.

The proposed changes to the law have been voted in favor by 88 out of 124 lawmakers, according to Yle.

Supporters of border fortification emphasize that the barrier should not be built along the entire 1,300-kilometer border, as such a project would be pointless and excessively costly, suggesting instead to place barriers only in “critical areas.”