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Russia’s neighbor approves controversial ‘deportation bill’ Russia’s neighbor approves controversial ‘deportation bill’
(about 7 hours later)
Finland insists that the measure is intended to counter the “weaponization” of migrants by Moscow Finland claims the measure will counter the “weaponization” of migrants by Moscow
Lawmakers in Finland approved a controversial bill on Friday that would allow the authorities to shut down the border of asylum seekers. The move comes after Helsinki accused Moscow of “weaponizing” migration. Lawmakers in Finland approved a controversial bill on Friday allowing border guards to turn away asylum seekers.
The so-called “deportation bill” would give border officials the power to reject asylum applications under certain conditions. “We determinedly set out to find solutions and today parliament has approved the law with a clear majority,” Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said. He added that he hopes that the new law “never has to be used.” The law “on temporary measures to combat instrumentalized migration” comes after the government closed all crossings along the 1,340-km border with Russia late last year, accusing Moscow of “weaponizing” migration.
EU commissioner for human rights, Michael O’Flaherty, sent a letter to Finnish lawmakers, urging them not to pass the bill because “the proposed law raises a number of significant human rights concerns.” If adopted, “it could set a destabilizing precedent,” and “could be replicated by other states, including those with a less developed practice of upholding human rights,” O’Flaherty wrote. “We determinedly set out to find solutions and today parliament has approved the law with a clear majority,” Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said, adding that he hopes the new law “never has to be used.”
The EU commissioner for human rights, Michael O’Flaherty, sent a letter to Finnish lawmakers, urging them not to pass the bill because “the proposed law raises a number of significant human rights concerns.” He wrote that “it could set a destabilizing precedent,” and “be replicated by other states, including those with a less developed practice of upholding human rights.” 
More than 200 university researchers from Finland and abroad signed a petition calling for lawmakers to reject the bill, national broadcaster Yle reported.More than 200 university researchers from Finland and abroad signed a petition calling for lawmakers to reject the bill, national broadcaster Yle reported.
The Finnish government has insisted that the bill would help fight what it called Russian “hybrid influencing against our security.” Since 2022, Finland has been reporting a surge of migrants, mostly from the Middle East, who attempted to cross into the country through the land border with Russia. Helsinki has accused Moscow of funneling the migrants to the border crossings. Russia dismissed this claim as “unsubstantiated” and said that Finland has de facto suspended the cooperation between the neighbors’ border agencies. The Finnish government has insisted that the measure will help fight what it called Russian “hybrid influence against our security.” Since 2022, Finland reported a surge of migrants – from countries including Somalia and Syria – who attempted to enter the country via the land border with Russia.
Russia and Finland preserved good working relations during the Cold War and expanded ties after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The relations deteriorated significantly in 2022 when Finland backed Ukraine and began supplying Kiev with weapons. The Nordic state abandoned its decades-old policy of non-alignment and joined NATO last year. Russia said that the move would only lead to further deterioration of security in Europe. Helsinki has accused Moscow of funneling the migrants to the border crossings. Russia has dismissed the claim as “unsubstantiated” and said Finland has de facto suspended cooperation between the neighbors’ border agencies.
Russia and Finland preserved good working relations during the Cold War and expanded ties after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Relations deteriorated significantly in 2022 when Finland backed Ukraine and began supplying Kiev with weapons. The Nordic state abandoned its decades-old policy of non-alignment and joined NATO last year. Russia said the move would only lead to further deterioration of security in Europe.