Finnish border guards announced today, Tuesday, that "Russian authorities are likely heavily involved in transporting migrants to the two remaining functioning border crossings as Finland seeks to curb the influx of migrants from Russia." Over 500 asylum seekers, mostly from Yemen, Somalia, Syria, and Iraq, have arrived in Finland via Russia over the past two weeks, prompting Helsinki to close half of its border crossings and accuse Moscow of transporting migrants to its border. Moscow denies these accusations.
Tommi Kivijärvi, head of the legal department at the Finnish border guards, stated, "While Helsinki is considering closing the entire border, migrants are arriving from Russia in cars and trucks, then disembarking and taking bicycles to cross into Finland." He added to Reuters, "It is very likely that Russian authorities are heavily involved in the process of transporting (migrants). It is also very likely that border guards are involved on their side."
