Finland passes tough immigration law to curb influx of Russian asylum seekers

The Finnish parliament approved this Friday a controversial bill that allows its border guards Prevent asylum seekers from entering the country Those arriving from across the Russian border will be allowed to enter the country without the need to first check their applications, provided that a series of conditions are met. The law, which will be valid for one year, was passed by 167 deputies voting in favour, while 31 legislators voted against.

The government may restrict applications for international protection to specific periods and to limited parts of its borders. Only vulnerable asylum seekers, such as children and people with disabilities, will be able to apply for international protection. Your eligibility will depend on the assessment of your case by border guards, and appeals may not be possible.

The legislative package is designed to Countering “Russian hybrid attacks”According to officials, it can be activated in defined areas of the country for up to a month if it is believed that Finland’s sovereignty and security are threatened. Executive of conservative Prime Minister Petteri OrpThe party, which has been governing in coalition with the Finnish People’s Party, the Swedish People’s Party and the Christian Democrats since last year, has been seeking the creation of new legal tools following the arrival of nearly 1,000 visa-free immigrants last year across its 1,340-kilometre-long border shared with Russia. A massive arrival forced Helsinki to indefinitely close the division at the end of 2023.

The Orpo government condemned the destabilization campaign waged by Moscow, but the Kremlin categorically rejected the accusations. Other countries such as Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have also warned of similar situations, saying that it is also taking place in their regions bordering Belarus. Therefore, the bill responds to this shared problem.

“This is a strong message to Russia and our allies.” “Finland will ensure its security and the security of the EU borders,” Orpo declared at a press conference after learning of the bill’s approval. However, some legal experts believe the law violates Finland’s international commitments on human rights as well as its own constitution.

Opposition parties gathered outside parliament to protest the approval of what they classify as the “expulsion law”, considering it, in the words of the leader, “a sad day for the rule of law and human rights in Finland”. Left Alliance, Lee Anderson. Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe, Michael O’FlahertyAnd the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees had urged Finnish lawmakers to reconsider the text.