Finland’s eastern border remains sealed amid concerns from Russian-speaking residents

Finland’s eastern border remains sealed, resulting in complications for Russian-speaking residents wishing to visit family in Russia. A petition advocating for the border’s reopening has been presented to the European Parliament by the Aleksanteriliitto association, alleging that Finland’s actions violate EU norms. Interior Minister Mari Rantanen and other officials fear that reopening could facilitate hybrid influence from Russia, thus maintaining the border’s closure.

Not all Russian speakers in Finland oppose the closure. The Democratic Community of Russian-Speaking Finns believes national security should take precedence. Minister Rantanen dismissed rumors of a partial reopening after significant speculation emerged about relaxing the border restrictions during winter.

Currently, many Russian-speaking residents, seeking to travel to Russia, are using the Estonian Narva-Ivangorod crossing. This route has proven to be slow and inconvenient, with complaints of long waits and cold conditions. Personal accounts depict frustrating experiences, highlighting the additional scrutiny imposed by border officials and the closure of the crossing at night.

Despite some voices calling for a trial opening of a crossing point to better assess the situation, Finnish government officials have stood firm on their decision. While a recent tightening of border regulations was expected to facilitate the opening, it has not yielded the desired effect.

Interestingly, while there is dissent regarding the closures, some members of the Russian-speaking community support the government’s focus on safety, advocating for clear criteria around any potential future openings. They hope for clarity and dialogue between citizens and authorities to address ongoing issues around border access.