Finnish border authorities have blocked several hundred people from entering Finland from Russia this year, with the number markedly increasing since Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
Just before the invasion, in January and February, just a few dozen people were barred from entering Finland at the country’s southeast border.
But since then, nearly 150 people were turned away by the Border Guard in March, while nearly 300 people were refused entry in April.
In total, the first half of the year has seen officials prevent 818 people from entering Finland from its eastern neighbour.
However, according to border authorities, it is not just Russians who have been refused entry.
"We do not differentiate between nationalities in this matter,” said Lieutenant Colonel Jukka Lukkari, Deputy Commander of the Southeast Finland Border Guard.
Public health risk was the most frequently cited reason for refusal of entry.
"Those turned back were not allowed in the country because of, among other things, existing entry restrictions due to the Covid pandemic," said Lukkari.
Those arriving from Russia must present border officials with a valid Covid certificate, in addition to meeting other general entry requirements.
Covid-related restrictions are unlikely to be lifted before July, at the earliest.
There are currently around 18,000 crossings at border stations in Vaalimaa and Nuijamaa, or around about one-tenth of normal, pre-pandemic, levels.