Finland closes border with Russians on tourist visa

Finland’s border with Russia has been closed to Russians on tourist visas, cutting off one of the last easy routes to Europe for Russians trying to flee a military mobilization aimed at supporting the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine.

Long queues were reported at the border crossing until midnight. Finnish broadcaster YLE reported from Valima, one of the main border crossings between the Nordic country and Russia, that the last people to enter Finland were two cyclists who arrived just before 11pm.

Of all EU member states, Finland has the longest border with Russia.

In addition to a border crossing between Russia and Norway, Finland provides the last convenient land route to Europe for Russians holding visas to the European Schengen area.

The Finnish government justified its decision, saying the influx of Russian tourists to Finland is jeopardizing the country’s international relations, citing security concerns related to Russia’s war in Ukraine, Russia’s “illegal” referendum in parts of Ukraine and the recent sabotage Concerns about the Nord Stream gas pipeline under the Baltic Sea from Russia.

Russian citizens can still enter Finland for family reasons, study or work. Dissidents may also seek access for humanitarian purposes.

Finland has cut the number of visas issued to Russian citizens, including tourist visas, to one-tenth of the typical number from September 1 in a show of solidarity with Ukraine.

Earlier this week, Finnish border guards said they wanted a fence at the border “due to the changing security environment in the Nordic countries”. Such a fence requires the approval of the Finnish Parliament.

The border guard said the fence would not cover the entire 830-mile border, but should be located in “higher risk areas, such as border crossings and their immediate vicinity.”

Norway said on Friday it was considering an entry ban on Russians holding Schengen visas. The Scandinavian country shares a 123-mile border with Russia in the Arctic. The only border crossing is at Storskog.

Attorney General Emily Engel Mayer said: “If necessary, we will close the border quickly, and changes are likely to occur within a short period of time.”