Finland Completely Eliminates Checkpoints at Russian Border, Closed 2 Years Ago

The Finnish Border Guard has finally closed the temporary border crossing points Inari and Parikkala in the Liiksaan district and is now removing signs. This was reported by the public broadcaster Yle, citing information from the country's Border Guard Service.

As you know, traffic through both temporary border crossing points has been blocked for a long time. 

At Inari and Parikkala, traffic has been closed since 1 November 2021 and 19 April 2022, respectively, due to restrictions on the export of Russian timber.

‘The decision does not change the current situation in any way and will not affect local residents. It was the final decision to close the Inari checkpoint,’ said Samuli Murtonen, deputy commander of the North Karelia border service.

The public broadcaster noted that the decision to close the temporary border crossing points was made unanimously by the head of the Finnish Border Guard and the head of the Russian Border Guard in October.

As a result of this decision, Finland will have to amend the governmental decree on border crossing points to eliminate the Parikkala and Inari checkpoints.

According to journalists, the Border Guard Service is now developing practical steps to implement this decision. In practice, this means, for example, removing signs indicating the border crossing point

The potential opening of temporary border crossings in the future is possible under the current agreement on border crossings between Finland and Russia, the border guards added.

In April, the Finnish government left the border with Russia closed indefinitely to counter the hybrid migration crisis.

A fence on the eastern border with Russia has already been partially constructed in Finland's Vaalimaa.