Finland to ban entry to Russian vacationers beginning midnight

HELSINKI, Finland — The Finnish authorities stated Thursday it could considerably restrict passenger visitors on Finland’s border with Russia, banning Russian residents touring with vacationer visas from getting into the Nordic nation efficient Friday.

“The choice in precept goals to fully stop Russian tourism to Finland and the associated transit by means of Finland,” Overseas Minister Pekka Haavisto stated throughout a information convention.

The federal government justified its choice by saying that continued arrivals of Russian vacationers in Finland is endangering the nation’s worldwide relations. It stated it had mentioned the problem with Ukraine’s management, amongst others, forward of the choice.

Haavisto cited safety issues associated to Russia’s battle in Ukraine, the “unlawful” referendums organized by Russia and up to date leaks within the Nord Stream pipelines as occasions that led to the choice.

Russian residents can nonetheless enter Finland, which shares a 1,340-kilometer (830-mile) land border with Russia, for household causes, for examine or work functions. Additionally, Russian political dissidents might search to enter the nation for humanitarian functions.

As of Sept. 1, Finland slashed the variety of visas – together with for tourism functions – issued to Russian residents to one-tenth of the standard quantity, a transfer seen as a present of solidarity with Ukraine.

Haavisto had earlier stated he was notably nervous a few form of Russian “vacationer route” by means of Helsinki airport which was utilized by hundreds of Russians earlier than Moscow’s Feb. 24 assault on Ukraine. Till now, Russians have been crossing into Finland earlier than flying to different European nations as a manner of circumventing flight bans imposed after the invasion.