Source: BBC News [UK state media]
“Finland’s prime minister has accused Russia of helping migrants get into the country illegally, saying some have been helped by Russian border guards. Finnish officials say migrants arrive by car before cycling across the border in small groups to claim asylum. Finland shares a 1,340km (833-mile) border with Russia, Europe’s longest. The number of crossings remains small but has been rising this week. Border guards say they have registered around 89 crossings in two days. That compares with 91 in the four months to 12 November. Matti Pitkaniitty, a colonel in the Finnish border guard, told BBC News the migrants included citizens of countries including Iraq, Yemen and Syria who had arrived legally in Russia but were not authorised to enter Finland, which is an EU member state.” (11/14/23)