Finland Extends Russian Border Closure on Security Risk
- Road checkpoints have been closed since late November
- Move is response to Russia using migrants to pressure Finland
The closed Vaalimaa border check point between Finland and Russia in Virolahti, Finland, on Jan. 14.
Photographer: Lauri Heino/AFP/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
Finland extended the closure of the NATO defense bloc’s longest border with Russia, citing continued risks to its national security.
The Nordic country will keep all eight road crossings along its demarcation with Russia closed until further notice — but no longer than is necessary — to prevent an assisted flow of migrants resuming at the checkpoints, Interior Minister Mari Rantanen said in a statement on Thursday.