Finland to close border amid Russian ‘organized activity’: Premier

By Leila Nezirevic

LONDON (AA) - The Finnish Border Guard announced Friday that border restrictions will take effect at midnight local time to place barriers at crossings it shares with Russia to deter asylum seekers.

The move is in response to changes in Russia’s border policy, the Finnish Border Guard’s head of international affairs, Matti Pitkaniitty, told reporters.

“Our aim is to use barrier devices to prevent entry,” said Pitkaniitty.

Finnish officials accused Moscow of purposefully loosening migration controls.

President Sauli Niinisto suggested Wednesday that it is one of the ways Russia is trying to retaliate to Helsinki’s decision to join NATO.

Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said Thursday that authorities decided to react strongly to what it sees as “organized activity” by Moscow.

“We have acted decisively and promptly in order not to have the situation deteriorate,” he said at a news conference.

But Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Yevgeny Ivanov rejected the "very strange” accusations and said Moscow would “get to the bottom” of it, the Russian state news agency, TASS reported.

Finland shares an 830-mile (1,335-kilometer) border with Russia with eight crossings.

It will be placing restrictions on the Niirala, Vaalimaa, Imatra and Nuijamaa crossings -- the busiest travel points between the two countries.

The four crossings would be closed due to a threat to the country’s national security, according to Finnish authorities.