Finnish lawmakers pass divisive law to reject migrants at Russian border

In a move that has sparked controversy, Finnish lawmakers have approved a new law allowing border guards to reject asylum applications from third-country migrants attempting to enter from Russia. The government argues that Moscow is orchestrating an influx of migrants to the border as part of what Finland perceives as "hybrid warfare" tactics. The temporary law, valid for one year, was narrowly passed by 167 lawmakers out of 200 in the Eduskunta, or Parliament, with opposition from the Left Alliance and the Green League. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo's center-right government defended the law as necessary for national security, citing concerns over Russia's deliberate actions to direct migrants to the Russia-Finland border zone, which also serves as the EU's external border to the north. The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O'Flaherty, expressed reservations about the law, warning that it could set a troubling precedent for other countries and the global asylum system. The majority of migrants arriving in Finland are from the Middle East and Africa, including countries like Afghanistan, Egypt, Iraq, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen. Finance Minister Riikka Purra, representing the nationalist far-right Finns Party, emphasized the importance of national security in justifying the law, stating that Russia should not be allowed to exploit weaknesses in Finland's legislation and international agreements. While pushbacks, forcibly returning individuals across borders without assessing their asylum rights, go against international and EU laws, some EU members like Poland, Latvia, and Lithuania have previously implemented similar measures to deal with migrants from Belarus. The situation in Finland reflects broader challenges faced by European countries in managing migration flows and balancing security concerns with human rights obligations.