Finland has announced plans to extend a controversial law that allows border authorities to turn away asylum seekers arriving at its eastern border with Russia. The law, initially adopted in July 2024 for one year, is seen by Helsinki as a response to what it claims is a wave of “instrumentalized migration” from Russia. The Kremlin has denied any such involvement.
The legislation, titled Temporary Measures to Combat Organized Migration, was enacted after a sudden spike in the number of asylum seekers crossing the 1340-kilometer-long Finnish-Russian border. Nearly 1,000 undocumented migrants arrived in late 2023, prompting Finland to shut the entire border.
On Thursday, Finnish Interior Minister Mari Rantanen stated that the threat of instrumentalized migration remains high and unpredictable. “The situation at the border is tense but stable,” she told reporters. “We must be prepared for it to escalate quickly and significantly,” she added.
The Finnish government has now submitted a proposal to Parliament to extend the law until the end of 2026. “By extending the legislation, we ensure that our border authorities retain sufficient powers to take preventative and effective action,” explained Rantanen.
However, critics argue that the law may conflict with both Finland’s constitutional protections and international human rights obligations. The government itself has acknowledged these legal tensions, as reported by AFP and Finland’s public broadcaster Yle.
Under the law, border guards can refuse entry to asylum seekers or deport them without processing their applications, though such actions require special authorization. Despite the strong stance, the government insists that such measures are essential to safeguarding national security and maintaining control over Finland’s external borders.
The move has sparked widespread debate within Finland and beyond, with human rights organizations urging the country to balance national security with international humanitarian commitments.
For more international updates, visit Live World Updates. For European policy and migration coverage, explore our section on LiveWorldUpdates.com.
Hashtags:
#FinlandBorderLaw
#MigrationPolicy
#HumanRightsDebate
#EuropeSecurity