The government says the measure aims to combat “migration instrumentalized” by Russia. Critics, however, fear that it will serve in practice to reject asylum seekers.
(DW) Finland’s parliament passed a controversial interim law on Friday (12/07), by 167 votes to 31, allowing it to bar asylum seekers who arrive via the country’s border with Russia.
The measure comes after Finland recorded a significant increase in the number of asylum seekers coming from countries such as Somalia and Syria last year.
Helsinki accuses Moscow of being behind the phenomenon and claims that its neighbor is “exploiting migration” to try to create a crisis in the country, in retaliation for the Finns joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
Russia and Finland share a 1,340 km border. It was closed completely at the end of last year, but two crossings were reopened shortly afterwards.
“Message to Russia”
According to Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, the measure is a “strong message to Russia and our allies [that] Finland will take care of its own security and the security of the European Union’s border”.
The law is expected to come into force in the next few days, after approval by Finnish President Alexander Stubb, with effect for one year, and should allow Helsinki to temporarily restrict asylum grants on the grounds of a risk to sovereignty and national security, with no possibility of appeal. When this is the case, only certain categories of refugees, such as children or people with disabilities, will be able to apply for asylum.
The measure adds to similar actions taken in recent years by Poland and Lithuania, which have also restricted immigration of people trying to enter the European Union from Russia or Belarus, a country allied to the Kremlin.
Critics say the law is unconstitutional
Parliamentarians who opposed the new law argued that they were concerned about possible human rights violations.
“It’s a sad day for the rule of law in Finland and for human rights,” lamented the leader of the Finnish Left Alliance, Li Andersson.
Legal experts opposed to the measure point out that it disregards human rights commitments laid down in the constitution and international treaties, as well as contravening EU rules.
ra (AFP, Reuters, dpa)