The Finnish authorities have announced the opening of two checkpoints on the border with Russia from Thursday, December 14. It concerns the checkpoints Vaalimaa - Torfyanovka and Niirala - Värtsilä, Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said. According to the head of the Finnish Ministry of the Interior Mari Rantanen, these checkpoints will operate until January 14, 2024. These checkpoints are considered the most suitable for both passenger and freight transportation. The Finnish government decided to close all checkpoints on the land border with Russia on November 28. Asylum applications in Finland are now accepted at airports and seaports. At the same time, railroad communication between Finland and Russia continues through the Vainikkala railway station. Due to the sharp increase in the flow of migrants, the Finnish authorities closed four checkpoints on the southern section of the border with Russia on the night of November 18. The Finnish authorities believe that the situation "could not have emerged on its own": in their opinion, Russia helps these migrants to cross the border and thus poses a threat to Finland's national security. In November alone, more than 500 refugees from Iraq, Syria and Somalia arrived in this country through the eastern border. Moscow, in turn, speaks about the rights violation of tens of thousands of citizens from the two countries and calls the statements of the Finnish side "provocative". But in fact it is Russia's actions that are provocative. Finland is not the first country to close checkpoints on the border with Russia. In October, two checkpoints were completely closed by Latvia. And now Norway and Estonia are considering closing their borders.
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