Finland–Russia border
This article needs additional citations for verification. (January 2024) |
Finland–Russia border | |
---|---|
Characteristics | |
Entities | Finland Russia |
Length | 1,340 km (833 mi) |
History | |
Established | 6 December 1917 Finnish Declaration of Independence |
Current shape | 10 February 1947 Paris Peace Treaties |
Treaties |
The
It is patrolled by the
The border can be crossed only at official checkpoints, and at least one
The northern endpoint of the border between Norway, Finland, and Russia forms a tripoint marked by Treriksrøysa, a stone cairn near Muotkavaara (69°03′06″N 28°55′45″E / 69.05167°N 28.92917°E). On the south, the boundary is on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, in which there is a maritime boundary between the respective territorial waters, terminating in a narrow strip of international waters between Finnish and Estonian territorial waters.[6][7]
History
Sweden–Russia border
The first treaty concerning the border was signed in
Generally, the native populations on both sides of the border were ethnically Finnish. However, the border region was marked by religious differences, with the Russian side being predominantly
Internal Russian border
After the Finnish War, the Treaty of Fredrikshamn transferred Finland from Sweden to the Russian Empire with the establishment of the Grand Duchy of Finland, an autonomous state ruled by the Russian Czars. In 1812, the Finnish–Russian border reverted to its pre-1721 location, granting the Grand Duchy of Finland so-called "Old Finland" territories previously held by Sweden.
Finland–Soviet-Russia border
In the period following Finland's
Changes to borders with World War II
In 1939, the Soviet Union invaded Finland in the Winter War, leading to the signing of the Moscow Peace Treaty the following year. The treaty had Finland cede several border areas to the USSR.
The naval border was established in 1940 and more accurately defined in 1965.[citation needed]
Between 1940 and 1941, the Soviet Union rented Hanko Peninsula as a military base, thereby creating an additional border crossing leading to the exclave.
After the
In the
Soviet–Finnish border during the Cold War
During the Cold War, the border constituted part of the perimeter of the Iron Curtain. Crossing the border was not possible for much of its length. Only a very limited number of border crossing points existed, and the Soviet government permitted only escorted trips to select cities; border zones were off limits to tourists.[8] There was little contact between cities that were relatively close to each other on opposite sides of the border, such as Imatra and Svetogorsk.
The Soviet side maintained extensive electronic systems and patrols to prevent illegal crossings. Soviet border
Both states verified the inviolability of borders and territorial integrity in the first Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe in 1975.
Traffic
Finland issues the most Schengen visas to Russians out of all the countries in the Schengen area.[10]
In 2015, 9.1 million individuals crossed the border, half of which went through Vaalimaa and Nuijamaa.[11]
Traffic across the border was interrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2023, Finland stopped issuing new tourist visas to Russians due to the Russo-Ukrainian War, and downgraded their travel advisory for Russia to "avoid all travel".[12] New Finnish visas can only be issued for travelers in certain categories, such as people with family in Finland or people who currently reside or work in Finland.[13] As a result, border traffic has not yet returned to pre-COVID-19 levels, though it still remains significant. By July 2023, there had been 973,337 border crossings, most of which occurred over land borders.[14] Most people crossing the border had multiple-entry visas issued before 2019 or Schengen visas issued by other member states. Entering Finland via Norway still remains legal, as Norway does not restrict tourist visas.[15]
On September 16, 2023, Finland banned vehicles with Russian license plates from entering their territory, in accordance with a decision by the European Union.[16]
November 2023 border closures
Amid the
Only five days after the closure of Kuusamo, Salla and Vartius, the last remaining crossing, Raja-Jooseppi, was temporarily closed for a period of two weeks.[5]
The closures, which apply to all traffic, including Finnish citizens, will last until April 14, 2024.[22] Initially, they were slated to reopen on February 11, 2024, but on February 8, the Finnish government announced an extension.[23]
The Finnish government said the measures were taken to curb the influx of illegal entries into the country, which they claim is being "aided and encouraged" by Russia.[24] The Finnish government has also accused Russia of deliberately using refugees as weapons as part of its hybrid warfare strategy.[25]
Incidents
This article appears to be slanted towards recent events. (December 2017) |
On 26 November 1939, the Soviet Union carried out a false flag attack on Finland, shelling the village of Mainila, located on the Soviet side of the Finland–Russia border, and then accusing Finland of being the aggressor. The Soviets used this as a pretext to instigate the Winter War, which began four days later on November 30.
On 27 December 2015, Finland blocked access to people crossing the border by
On 23 January 2016, Finnish Foreign Minister
In March 2016, Finland and Russia temporarily closed the Raja-Jooseppi and Salla border crossings to third country nationals. Only Finnish, Russian and Belarusian citizens were allowed to use these crossings for a period of six months.[31] The measure was later removed.[when?]
Finland began constructing a border barrier in 2023 due to the Russo-Ukrainian War.[32]
List of border checkpoints
Regular border checkpoints, ordered from north to south, are as follows:[34]
- Raja-Jooseppi] / Lotta (road 91 / P11 / 47А-059)
- Salla (road 82)
- Kuusamo border station] (road 866 / A136)
- Vartius (road 89)
- Vartius (Kontiomäki –Kostomuksha railway, freight only)
- Niirala (Tohmajärvi) / Vyartsilya (road 9 / A130)
- Imatra (road 62 / A124)
- Nuijamaa (road 13 / A127)
- Nuijamaa (Saimaa Canal)
- Riihimäki – Saint Petersburg Railway, passenger and freight trains, the only rail crossing used in 2015[11])
- Vaalimaa/Torfyanovka (road E18 / 7 / M10)
In addition, there are provisional border crossing points:
- Haapovaara
- Inari
- Karttimo
- Kurvinen
- Leminaho
- Parikkala
- Ruhovaara
- Imatra railway crossing point (Imatra–Kamennogorsk railway, freight only)
Passport stamps
The following are Finnish ink passport stamps issued at the Finnish–Russian border.
-
Passport entry stamp from the Finnish border checkpoint at Imatra
-
Passport exit stamp from the Finnish border checkpoint at Imatra
-
Passport entry stamp from the Finnish border checkpoint at Nuijamaa
-
Passport exit stamp from the Finnish border checkpoint at Vaalimaa
-
Passport exit stamp (old style) from the Finnish border checkpoint at Vaalimaa
-
Passport exit stamp issued on the train in Vainikkala
-
Passport entry stamp (new and old styles) issued on the train in Vainikkala
See also
References
- ISBN 978-0-1040-1232-1.
- ^ "FINNISH-RUSSIAN CASE STUDY" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 15, 2012. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
- ^ "Rajavyöhyke - Rajavartiolaitos". raja.fi. Archived from the original on July 24, 2018. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
- ^ "Electronic surveillance grows at Russian border as border guard strength is cut". HELSINGIN SANOMAT INTERNATIONAL EDITION - HOME. October 6, 2009. Retrieved January 14, 2014.
- ^ a b Kirby, Paul; Rainsford, Sarah (November 29, 2023). "Russia warns of tension as Finland shuts last border crossing". BBC News. Archived from the original on November 30, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
- ^ Svein Askheim. "Treriksrøysa". Store norske leksikon. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
- ^ "Muotkavaara - lines in the wilderness". by-the-borderline.com. Archived from the original on October 31, 2016. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
- ^ a b Timo Laine. Torakoita ja panssarivaunuja - Silminnäkijänä hajoavassa neuvostoimperiumissa. Tammi, Helsinki, 2014.
- ^ https://paliskunnat.fi/reindeer-herders-association/organisation/reindeer-fences/
- ^ "Barentsobserver". Barentsobserver.
- ^ a b "Rajavartiolaitos lukuina - Rajavartiolaitos". raja.fi. Archived from the original on August 12, 2018. Retrieved March 28, 2016.
- ^ https://um.fi/matkustustiedote/-/c/RU
- ^ https://raja.fi/maahantulon-rajoitukset
- ^ https://raja.fi/-/katsaus-kaakkois-suomen-rajavartioston-toimintaan-kesakuussa-2023
- ^ https://yle.fi/a/74-20046236
- AP News. September 15, 2023. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
- ^ Vock, Ido (November 16, 2023). "Finland to close some crossing points on Russia border - PM". BBC News. Archived from the original on November 16, 2023. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
- ^ Tanner, Jari; Gera, Vanessa. "Why Finland is blaming Russia for a sudden influx of migrants on its eastern border". Associated Press. Archived from the original on November 25, 2023. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
- ^ Government Communications Department. "Finland to close more border crossing points". Valtioneuvosto. Government of Finland. Archived from the original on November 25, 2023. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
- ^ https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-finland-deploy-50-border-guard-officers-bolster-finland-control-activities-russia/
- ^ https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/finland-close-all-one-border-crossing-with-russia-pm-2023-11-22/
- ^ "Finland extends Russia border closing until April 14". Reuters. February 8, 2024. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
- ^ "Finland, Russia: Helsinki extends border crossing closures until at least April 14 /update 6". Crisis24. February 8, 2024. Archived from the original on February 14, 2024. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
- ^ "Finland to close border crossings with Russia over migrant influx". France 24. November 16, 2023. Archived from the original on November 16, 2023. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
- ^ Tanner, Jari; Gera, Vanessa. "Why Finland is blaming Russia for a sudden influx of migrants on its eastern border". Associated Press. Archived from the original on November 25, 2023. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
Finnish Foreign Minister Valtonen told the AP that there is no doubt that Russia "is instrumentalizing migrants" as part of its "hybrid warfare" against Finland
- ^ "Finland prohibits crossing border with Russia on bikes - media".
- ^ "Rajavartiosto: Emme yrittäneetkään peitellä pyöräkiellon oikeaa pääsyytä – "Kyllä harmittaa"". December 29, 2015.
- ^ "Uusi ilmiö itärajalla: Turvapaikanhakijoiden "romuautoralli" alkoi?". December 29, 2015.
- ^ "Soini turvapaikanhakijoiden määrästä Venäjän rajalla: "On ilmiselvää, että toiminta on johdettua"". January 23, 2016.
- ^ "Turvapaikanhakijoiden määrää ihmettelevät sallalaiset tapasivat Timo Soinin – "Tilanne ei ole tyydyttävä"". January 23, 2016.
- ^ "Finland and Russia agree on temporary border restrictions". Reuters. March 22, 2016.
- ^ "Finland starts construction of Russia border fence". February 28, 2023 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ https://yle.fi/a/74-20062056
- ^ "Opening hours for border crossing points - The Finnish Border Guard". raja.fi. Archived from the original on March 24, 2018. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
External links
- Media related to Finland-Russia border at Wikimedia Commons
- The Finnish Border Guard, Border Surveillance Archived June 24, 2018, at the Wayback Machine