Finland Passes Law to Block Illegal Migrants from Africa, Syria and Somalia on Russian Border

On Friday, the Finnish Parliament passed a law that gives border guards the right to block illegal migrants from Africa, Syria, Somalia and Iran, who have been crossing the border from Russia en masse for the third year in a row.

This was reported by Reuters.

The bill was passed with 167 votes in favour, 31 against and one abstention. 

The bill required a two-thirds majority in the 200-seat parliament.

The government of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said the bill was vital to stemming the future influx of illegal migrants from poor countries in the Global South from Russia, despite the fact that the law contradicts Finland's international human rights obligations.

"This is a strong signal to Russia, a strong signal to our allies that Finland cares about its own security, we care about the security of the EU's borders," Orpo said at a press conference after the vote.

The adopted law is temporary and will be in force for a year. A joint decision of the government and the president will be required to enact the law.

The law will allow Finnish border guards to turn back illegal migrants at the border, who are being used by Russia to its advantage.  

Since March, no new illegal immigrants have arrived in the country - Finland closed its land borders with Russia at the end of last year.

Finland has also accused Russia of turning migration into a weapon by encouraging dozens of migrants from countries such as Syria, Iran and Somalia to cross the border. 

Russia, of course, denies these accusations, but continues to transport thousands of illegal immigrants to its borders with Europe.

However, Helsinki believes that Moscow is encouraging large numbers of illegal immigrants from poor countries in the Global South to cross the border in response to Finland's accession to NATO, which also supports Ukraine.

As a reminder, Poland is facing a rather difficult situation due to the influx of illegal immigrants from the border of Belarus, to which Russia is sending masses of aggressive Iranians, Syrians and Somalis. 

Recently, dozens of illegal migrants armed with homemade weapons on the Belarusian side of the border with Poland fired a volley of homemade spears at Polish border guards through a five-metre steel fence. Several Polish border guards were wounded in the attack, and 21-year-old Sergeant Mateusz Sitek was killed.

As The Gaze previously reported, more than 300 illegal immigrants from Africa, Syria and Iran tried to break through Poland's border with Belarus.