Finnish border closed to Russians with tourist visas

Finland's border with Russia was closed to Russians with tourist visas Friday, curtailing one of last easily accessible routes to Europe for Russians trying to flee a military mobilization aimed at bolstering Kremlin’s war in Ukraine.

Long queues were reported until midnight at border crossings. Among last to enter Finland were two cyclists who arrived a little before 11 p.m., Finnish brocaster YLE reported from Vaalimaa, one of main border crossings between Nordic country and Russia. Finland has longest border with Russia of all European Union member countries.

With exception of one border crossing between Russia and Norway, Finland h provided last easily accessible land route to Europe for Russian holders of European Schengen-zone visas.

government justified its decision by saying that continued arrivals of Russian tourists in Finland is endangering country’s international relations, and cited security concerns related to Russia’s war in Ukraine, “illegal” referendums arranged by Russia in parts of Ukraine and recent sabotage of Nord Stream gas pipelines from Russia under Baltic Sea.

Russian citizens can still enter Finland for family reasons, study or work. Also, Russian political dissidents may seek to enter for humanitarian purposes.

As of Sept. 1, Finland slashed number of visas — including for tourism purposes — issued to Russian citizens to one-tenth of typical number, in a show of solidarity with Ukraine.

Earlier this week, Finnish border guards said y want a fence along border with Russia, deeming it “necessary due to changing security environment” in Nordic country. Such a fence requires approval of Finnish Parliament.

fence would not run entire 1,340-kilometer (830-mile) length of border, but shoudl be in “riskier areas, such as border crossings and ir nearby areas,” border guards said.

Norway said Friday it was considering imposing an entry ban for Russians with Schengen visas. Scandinavian country has a border in Arctic with Russia which is 198 kilometers (123 miles) long. sole crossing point is at Storskog.

“We will close border quickly if necessary, and changes can come at short notice,” Justice Minister Emilie Enger Mehl said.

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