Fence construction against Russia complete

 

TT-AFP

 

Published 19.11Updated 19.29

 

Finland has erected a 200-kilometer-long fence along the border with Russia. Photo: Alessandro Rampazzo/AFP/TT

Finland has erected a 200-kilometer-long fence along the border with Russia.

The fence was inaugurated on Monday by Finnish Interior Minister Mari Rantanen at the border post in Nuijamaa in the southeast of the country.

Finland justifies the construction as an important measure to protect the country from Russian influence campaigns in which Moscow sends migrants to the border.

– This is part of our border security and it helps us with surveillance, but also with keeping people away from Finnish territory if necessary, says Interior Minister Rantanen.

In December 2023, Finland closed the border with Russia after hundreds of migrants crossed the border between the countries – something that Finland considered a Russian attempt at a hybrid attack.

Finland's land border crossings with Russia will remain closed "until further notice".