Government decides to close the border in Southeast Finland
Press release

The Government has decided to close part of Finland’s eastern border. The border crossing points of Vaalimaa, Nuijamaa, Imatra and Niirala will be closed starting on 18 November 2023. Submission of applications for international protection at the land border between Finland and Russia will be concentrated at the border crossing points of Vartius and Salla. The Government decided on the matter at an session on Thursday. The decision will remain in force until 18 February 2024.

“We have acted decisively and swiftly so that the situation at the eastern border would not escalate. During the previous parliamentary term, amendments were made to the Border Guard Act precisely for such situations. These tools have now been used,” says Prime Minister Petteri Orpo.

“The closing of border crossing points at the eastern border will stop illegal entry into Finland. The Government is prepared to take even stronger measures if necessary,” says Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen.

There are indications that foreign authorities or other actors have played a role in facilitating the entry into Finland of persons who have crossed the border illegally.

Borders closed in Southeast Finland as of 18 November 2023
During the validity of the decision, people crossing the land border between Finland and Russia must use border crossing points other than those of Vaalimaa, Nuijamaa, Imatra and Niirala. Finnish citizens must also use open border crossing points.

The submission of applications for international protection, i.e. asylum, at the land border between Finland and Russia, will be concentrated at the border crossing points of Vartius and Salla. People seeking to enter the country will be directed and guided to these locations.

Decision based on Border Guard Act
According to section 16 of the Border Guard Act, the Government may decide to close border crossing points for a fixed period or until further notice if it is necessary to prevent a serious threat to public order, national security or public health. The Government may also decide to centralise the submission of applications for international protection at one or more border crossing points if needed.

The Government and authorities are closely monitoring the situation at Finland’s eastern border. The content and scope of the decision will be regularly assessed as the situation develops. The decision will be repealed or amended if it is no longer necessary to prevent a serious threat to public order or national security.

Dowladdu waxaa ay go’aan ku gaartay in ay xirto xadka Koonfur-bari ee Finland

La daabacay 17.11.2023

Golaha wasiiradda waxaa ay go’aan ku gaareen in la xiro qayb ka mid ah xadka bari ee dalka Finland. Goobaha xad ka soo tallaabista magaalooyinka Vaalimaa, Nuijamaa, Imatra iyo Niirala ayaa la xirayaa laga bilaabo 18.11.2023. Codsashada badbaadada caalamiga ah ama magangalyada qaxootinnimo waxaa la isugu geyn doonaa goobaha xad ka soo tallaabista Virtius iyo Salla. Arrinkaan waxaa khamiistii lagu go’aamiyay kulankii ahaa ee ay yeesheen golaha wasiirrada. Go’aanku wuxuu shaqaynayaa ama soconayaa illaa iyo 18.2.2024.

“Waxaan qaadannay go’aan degdeg ah, si aanay xaaladda xadka bari uga sii darin. Sababtaas awgeed ayaa xilligii doorashadii hore ee ugu dambaysay waxaa isbeddel lagu sameeyay sharciga ilaalada xuduudka. Hadda arrimahaas aayaan adeegsannay“, ayuu yiri ra’iisulwasaaraha dalkan Finland Petteri Orpo.

“Xiritaanka la xiray goobaha xuduud ka soo tallaabista ee xadadka bari, waa tallaabo la doonayo in lagu joojiyo dadka sida sharci darrada ah u soo galaya dalka Finland. Dowladduna waxaa ay diyaar u tahay in ay qaaddo waxqabadyo kuwaasi ka sii xoog badan haddii loo baahdo “, sidaasna waxaa tiri wasiirka arrimaha gudaha ee dalkaan Finland Mari Rantanen.

Waxaa jira arrimo tilmaamaaya in hawlwadeenno ka socda dalal ajnabi oo wafdi ahaan ku yimid Finland iyo hay’ado kale oo hawlo ka waday dalka ay qayb ka ahaayeen ka caawinta iyo u sahlidda in shakhsiyaad ay si sharco darro ah xadka uga soo gudbaan oo dalka u soo galaan.

Xuduudaha Koonfur-bari waa ay xiran yihiin laga bilaabo 18.11.2023

Muddada uu go’aankan shaqaynaayo dadka ka soo gudbaaya dhulka xadka ah ee u dhexeeya Finland iyo Ruushka, waa in ay isticmaalaan wixii aan ka ahayn goobaha xuduud ka soo tallaabista ee Vaalimaa Nuijamaa, Imatra iyo Niirala. Sidoo kale muwaadiniinta finishka ah waa in ay isticmaalaan goobaha xad ka soo tallaabista ee furan.

Codsashada badbaadada caalamiga ama magangalyada qaxootinnimo waxaa la isugu geyn doonaa goobaha xad ka soo tallaabista ee Vartius iyo Salla, halkaasoo dadka isu dayaaya in ay dalka soo galaan loo jihayn doono, islamarkaaa laga hagi doono.

Go’aanku waa mid ku salaysan sharciga ilaalada xuduudka

Sida uu dhigaayo sharciga ilaalada xuduudka, golaha wasiirada waxaa ay go’aan ka gaari karaan arrinka ku saabsan xirista goobaha xad ka soo tallaabista, haddii xiritaankaas uu yahay mid lagammamaarmaan u ah sidii looga hortagi lahaa khatar aad u weyn oo ku imaanaysa nidaamka guud ee dalka, ammaanka qaranka ama dhibaato khatar ku ah caafimaadka dadka. Sidoo kale golaha wasiirradu waxaa ay haddii loo baahdo go’aamin karaan arrinka ku saabsan, in codsiga badbaadada caalamiga ama magangalyada qaxootinnimo la isugu geeyo hal ama dhowr goobood oo ka mid ah kuwa xad ka soo tallaabista.

Dowladda iyo hawlwadeennaduba si dhab ah ayay ula socon dooonaan horumarka xaaladda xuduudka bari. Waxyaabaha uu go’aanku ka kooban yahay iyo baaxaddiisaba waxaa loo qiimeyn doonaa si joogto ah, iyadoo arrinkaa lagu salaynaayo hadba sida ay xaaladdu u horumarto. Go’aanka waxaa la burinayaa ama wax laga beddelayaa, haddii uusan mardambe lagaammamaarmaan u ahayn arrinka ku saabsan kahortagga khatar aad u weyn oo ku wajahan nidaamka guud ama ammaanka qaranka.