Finland to Partially Reopen Border with Russia Amid Migrant Crisis

Two of eight crossings to reopen after two-week closure, as Helsinki accuses Moscow of using migrants for 'hybrid warfare'.

Finland will reopen two of its eight border crossings with Russia after a two-week closure due to a sudden influx of migrants in November.
The Finnish government accuses Russia of using migrants to destabilize Finland in an alleged act of 'hybrid warfare', a claim that Russia denies.
The border crossings at Imatra and Niirala will reopen from Thursday until at least January 14, while the remaining six crossings will stay closed.
Nearly 1,000 migrants without proper visas or valid documentation arrived at the border from August until end-November, with more than 900 of them in November alone.
The majority of the migrants are from Syria, Somalia, and Yemen, with smaller groups from Afghanistan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iraq, Kenya, and Pakistan.