Three Germans Arrested in Finland for Crossing into Russia

Finnish border guards have arrested three Germans who illegally crossed the border into Russia on snowmobiles, reportedly driven by curiosity, Yle has reported.

"Three German tourists are suspected of crossing the state border between Finland and Russia illegally on Wednesday. The Kainuu border patrol apprehended the tourists near the border while on snowmobiles," the report stated.

According to Yle, the tourists admitted to crossing the border and claimed they acted out of curiosity. The border guards have informed the Russian authorities about the incident.

"Yes, they deliberately headed towards the border and crossed into Russia," said Captain Juha Romppainen of the Border Guard, as quoted by Yle.

Additionally, Yle reported that on Thursday, a Finnish citizen attempted to cross the Russian border and was also arrested. The border between Finland and Russia has been closed by Finnish authorities until further notice. Finland began implementing border restrictions in November 2023 due to an uncontrollable influx of refugees from third countries.

Finnish authorities have accused Russia of allegedly sending asylum seekers to the border.

Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, denied the accusations of Russia's involvement in the EU migration crisis, calling them a manifestation of Western double standards.