ISW: Russia’s attempt to create migrant crisis at Finnish border - futile

Russia’s attempt to artificially create a migrant crisis at the Finnish border appears to be failing due to the Finnish authorities’ swift response. 

Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo stated on November 27 that the Finnish government will close the last border crossing with Russia “if necessary” and reported that the Finnish government is ready to take unspecified additional measures in response to Russia’s artificially generated migrant crisis, Caliber.Az reports citing ISW.

Finland previously closed three checkpoints on the Finnish-Russian border on November 23, leaving only its northernmost border crossing open. Several other Finnish government officials also signalled their support for closing the entire border with Russia. 

A Russian insider source claimed that Russian Presidential Administration First Deputy Head Sergei Kiriyenko instructed Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) Head Vladimir Kolokoltsev to gather migrants from the Middle East, Africa, and other regions to send them to the Finnish border. 

The insider source complained that Finnish border authorities stopped most migrants from crossing into Finland and that Russian authorities must now settle the migrants in Russia.