(VOVWORLD) - The European Border and Coast Guard Agency Frontex said Thursday it will send more officers to Finland next week as Finland seeks to limit the number of asylum seekers coming via Russia.
 The construction of fence along Finland's long border with Russia on April 14, 2023. (Photo: AFP/VNA) |
Frontex in a statement said it will deploy 50 border guard officers and other staff to Finland along with patrol cars and other equipment to bolster control activities.
Frontex said it will send a first group on November 29, including border surveillance officers, support for registering migrants, document experts, and interpreters. The fundamental rights of all people will be respected and upheld, Frontex said.
The Finnish government has announced it will close three of the remaining four checkpoints on its border with Russia, the exception being the Raya-Jooseppi checkpoint.
Finland shares a 1,340km border with Russia. Relations between Russia and Finland have deteriorated significantly since the conflict between Russia and Ukraine began in February last year. Finland became a Member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) this summer.