Finland permanently closes two checkpoints on its border with Russia

The Finnish Border Guard has announced the permanent closure of the temporary border crossing points at Inari and Parikkala in the Lieksa district, with the relevant signs already removed.

Deputy Commander of the North Karelia Border Guard, Samuli Murtonen, stated that the decision does not change the current situation in any way and will not affect local residents, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

It was a final decision to permanently close the Inari border crossing.

This decision was made unanimously by the heads of the Finnish and Russian border guard services in October. Following this, Finland will need to amend its government decree concerning border crossing points to officially eliminate the Parikkala and Inari crossings.

While border guards have begun taking down signs that indicate the locations of these crossings, it is noted that the reopening of temporary crossing points may be possible in the future, as this is regulated by the existing agreement on border crossings between Finland and Russia.

Notably, in April, the Finnish government decided to keep the border with Russia closed indefinitely to address the hybrid migration crisis. 

Additionally, recent reports indicate that a fence has been partially constructed along the eastern border with Russia in the Finnish town of Vaalimaa.

By Aghakazim Guliyev