EU condemns Russia for boosting migrants towards Finnish border

The European Union has on Friday accused Russia of using the shameful “of migrants to increase pressure on other states, saying it has noticed increasing the number of undocumented asylum seekers, crossing Russia's border with Finland.

Helsinki has announced on Thursday that it will close four of eight border points with Russia over the weekend, due to the increase in the number of asylum seekers.

Finland's Prime Minister Petter Orpo has said Russia is aiming to destabilise his state, following the decision to join NATO earlier in the year.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen spoke to Orpon on Thursday, and said that <x0insolmentisation of migrants” on Russia's side is “something shameful”.

European Union spokesman Christian Wigand has said on Friday that Brussels has noted an increase in undocumented asylum seekers from the Russian Federation in Finland.

“We are closely following the situation. We are in contact with Finnish authorities and the Finnish border guard”, he has said.

Helsinki's ties with Moscow have deteriorated since Russia's war in Ukraine began in February 2022.

Something like that has moved Finland to abandon its neutral stance and join NATO to boost the country's security.

This Nordic state shares the 1,340km border with Russia.

It is reported that in September alone, 280 asylum seekers have gone to Finland.

Brussels has indicted Belarus, Russia's ally, in the past, for prompting thousands of undocumented immigrants to cross the border with Poland and Lithuania in retaliation for the European bloc's sanctions.

Poland has accused Russia and Belarus of orchestrating the new migration influx in August. / REL/