Migrants Stuck In Border Zone After Finland Blocks Russia Crossings

A car is seen at the border between Russia and Finland at the Nuijamaa border checkpoint in Lappeenranta, Finland, on November 16.

Dozens of third-country nationals are stranded at Finland's border with Russia on November 18 after Helsinki authorities blocked frontier crossings a day earlier. Finland has accused Moscow of sending migrants to the crossings in retaliation for its decision to join NATO, an allegation the Kremlin denied. Russian news outlet RBC reported that migrants had been let through by Russian border guards but that they were forced back by Finnish personnel. At midnight on November 17, Finland blocked four key border crossings in southeast Finland. Finland's Yle reported that four people did manage to enter Finnish territory and by law had their asylum applications accepted. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Russian Service, click here.