Vartius, one of the handful of open border crossings along the Finland–Russia frontier, has been temporarily shut down. This development was reported by the Finnish news outlet Itlalehti.
The Vartius checkpoint sits adjacent to the Lyuttya crossing in the Karelia region. The outlet stated that the closure was prompted by congestion after as many as 67 people seeking asylum arrived in a single day, with 18 refugees having passed through Vartius the day before.
Later, as reported by SoOn on the evening of November 17, roughly 30 travelers arriving by bicycle reached the Niirala border gate and attempted to cross. Border officials responded by using a gas device during the encounter with one of the travelers.
Around the same time, Finnish authorities announced changes to border management, noting that the decision had not been ignored. There was a recent cancellation of plans to permanently close the Russian border crossing points.
Earlier, the Finnish government had approved measures to close four of the eight checkpoints on the Russian border starting November 18. The Council of Ministers explained that the ban would be in place for three months, until February 18, 2024.
There are ongoing discussions at the highest levels regarding challenges at the border with Russia, and officials are weighing how to balance security, humanitarian concerns, and regional mobility for residents and travelers alike.