Finland’s Withdrawal from Cross-Border Cooperation Agreement with Russia and Increase in Illegal Migrants

Finland’s withdrawal from the agreement will take effect on January 24 of next year, when the currently valid agreement expires.

The document on withdrawing from the agreement states that “the agreement was terminated at the initiative of the other party, therefore only the decision on the entry into force of the agreement can be annulled”.

Finland and Russia signed an agreement on cross-border cooperation in 2012. In the agreement, both parties undertook to “strengthen cross-border cooperation and develop it on the basis of equality and mutual benefit”, as well as to develop and implement a territorial development strategy, as well as to increase investment activity in border areas.

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustins signed the order to withdraw from the cross-border cooperation agreement with Finland in October. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia informed Finland about this.

In November, Finland announced that due to the increase in the flow of illegal migrants from third countries, all border crossing points with Russia will be closed until December 13, except for the border crossing point in Vainikal for freight train traffic.

Since August, the number of asylum seekers from Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Somalia and other countries of the Middle East and Africa has increased sharply on the Finnish border from Russia. Most persons do not have the documents required to enter Finland. Since the beginning of November, the number of such illegal migrants on the Russian-Finnish border has exceeded 600.

The Finnish authorities believe that the Russian side is deliberately organizing the flow of migrants. Finnish Prime Minister Peteri Orpo stated that Russia “uses citizens of third countries without mercy”. “These people are pushed to the border and not allowed back,” Orpo described the actions of Russian officials.

2023-12-01 06:31:59
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