According to Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP), Finland's eastern border has remained calm primarily because of his government’s decision to close the border crossings, not because of any change in Russia's policy of hybrid influence.
Orpo said that intelligence information shows that there are still thousands of migrants near the border, waiting for it to re-open.
The prime minister made the comments on Sunday afternoon during a regular roundtable discussion with print journalists broadcast by Yle Radio Suomi from his official residence, Kesäranta.
Border law to Parliament next week
Next week, the government will ask Parliament to approve a tough new law on deportations at the border. It would allow the Border Guard to immediately force would-be asylum seekers back into Russia under certain circumstances. Legal scholars and NGOs argue that the law would violate Finland’s international agreements.
Last month, Orpo's cabinet decided that the border with Russia would remain closed indefinitely except for a single rail link. Ministers predicted that the instrumentalised entry of migrants would re-start if border crossing points were to open.
Officials also expressed worries that the melting of snow would encourage more illegal crossings through forested parts of the frontier, but there has been no rise in such entries.
Slovak attack could affect campaigning
Orpo was also asked about the impact of last week’s assassination attempt against his Slovak colleague, Prime Minister Robert Fico.
Orpo noted that the incident has led to the tightening of security measures for politicians around Europe. However, he expressed the hope that this would not affect politicians' opportunities to campaign, including for the European Parliament elections, which are just over two weeks away.
The premier said he considered Finland to be a safe country, even though the political debate here is heated at the moment.
On Saturday, Slovak officials said that Fico was in serious but stable condition, while the man charged with his attempted murder appeared in court. Authorities said that he had a political motive.
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