As of Friday, Russian tourists will have a much more difficult time entering the European Union (EU) through Finland, the only country in the community bloc that kept its border open to Russian citizens with a visa issued in a country in space. Schengen. The Finnish government approved on Thursday the "complete closure" of its borders to Russian travelers with tourist visas, alleging that their arrival could cause "serious damage to Finland's international position."
The measure, which has been expected for a week, will take effect this midnight. The significant increase in the number of entries into the country from Russia recorded since September 21, when Russian President Vladimir Putin decreed partial military mobilization, "has significantly influenced the decision," said Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavist.
The mechanism aims to significantly restrict the flow of Russian citizens entering the Nordic country, many of whom continue their journey to other EU destinations. However, both Finland and the Baltic nations and Poland allow entry to those Russian citizens who arrive for family, work, study or humanitarian reasons. Likewise, opponents of the Kremlin may try to enter the country on humanitarian grounds.
In addition to his country's security concerns related to Russia's war in Ukraine, Haavisto cited the "illegal" referendums organized by Moscow in four Ukrainian provinces and the recent leaks in the Nord Stream gas pipelines as other facts that motivated the decision to Helsinki.
Helsinki expects that the entry into force of the ban will cause a drop in border traffic between Finland and Russia. The Finnish border service reported yesterday that 50,655 Russians have crossed into the country since the 21st. But only half fled, since 25,979 have returned to Russia. That represents 51%, while a week earlier the return rate was 91%.
Finland, with 1,340 kilometers of border with Russia, thus becomes the last bordering EU country that chooses to veto the entry of Russian tourists, after the three Baltic republics (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) and Poland did the same two weeks. Until now, Russians have been crossing into the Nordic country before flying to other European countries as a way to circumvent flight bans imposed after the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24. Helsinki is a five-hour drive from St. Petersburg.
