A van at the Nuijamaa, a border station between Russia and Finland in Lappeenranta, Finland, Nov 16, 2023. (PHOTO / LEHTIKUVA VIA AP)

HELSINKI - Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said on Tuesday that the country will temporarily close all its eastern border crossings for two weeks starting on Thursday.

Orpo said at a press conference that the decision will be effective until Dec 13. Finland closed four border crossing points in the southeast on Nov 18. Since last Friday, only the Raja-Jooseppi border crossing in the northernmost region has been open.

Some 900 asylum seekers from nations including Kenya, Morocco, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria and Yemen have entered Finland from Russia in November, an increase from less than one per day previously, according to the Finnish Border Guard

Noting the necessity of the complete closure of the eastern border crossings, Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen said Finland could extend the total closure if required.  

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Some 900 asylum seekers from nations including Kenya, Morocco, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria and Yemen have entered Finland from Russia in November, an increase from less than one per day previously, according to the Finnish Border Guard.

The decision to shut all eight border crossings means only cargo trains can pass between the two countries, Finland's Border Guard said.

Finland's ombudsman for non-discrimination last week said the remote location of Raja-Jooseppi prompted concerns that Helsinki was jeopardising the right to seek asylum.

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Asylum can still be sought by travelers arriving by boat and by air, the Finnish government said on Tuesday.

With Reuters inputs