Finland’s Temporary Border Bill
Finland passed a temporary bill on Friday that permits border agents to reject asylum seekers at its borders, escalating tensions with Russia in the midst of an ongoing dispute. The move has raised concerns among experts and human rights groups who fear that it may breach international laws.
Relations between Finland and Russia, countries that share an 830-mile border, have significantly deteriorated following Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Finland had previously shut down all land crossings with Russia, accusing Moscow of attempting to weaponize migration, a claim that Russian authorities have denied as “unsubstantiated.”
The Finnish Parliament approved the bill with a vote of 167 to 31, establishing its enforcement for a year. The legislation allows authorities to suspend the acceptance of asylum applications at the border for periods of up to a month, as well as to deport migrants who have entered the country in hopes of seeking asylum. Notably, the practice of forcibly returning individuals over a border, known as “pushbacks,” is deemed illegal under European and international laws.
The bill underwent several revisions since its initial draft in May, which was deemed unconstitutional. Legal experts cautioned that the bill would also violate Finland’s international commitments, with the U.N. refugee agency expressing concerns about the potential establishment of a “dangerous precedent.”
To address worries regarding Finland’s human rights obligations, lawmakers engaged in extensive discussions regarding the bill’s language, provisions for asylum seekers’ appeals, and Parliament’s role in its implementation.
