Finland mulls fencing border, fearing 'hybrid' Russian attacks
Finland plans to erect fencing along its border with Russia, worrying about so-called hybrid" reprisals from Russia, the government said Friday.
Concerned that Moscow will use migrants to exert political pressure, Helsinki submitted a draft amendment Thursday, which aims to strength fencing at certain points of the country's huge 1,300 kilometre (810 miles) long border with Russia. This is desired "as soon as possible."
The announcement follows Finland's candidacy for NATO, which Russia has said may force it to take "retaliatory steps."
The Nordic country fears in particular so-called "hybrid" reprisals, such as cyberattacks or non-military destabilisation operations.
"The purpose of this bill is to improve the operational capacity of border guards in response to hybrid threats," Anne Ihannus, adviser to the Ministry of the Interior, told AFP.
"The war in Ukraine has contributed to the urgency of this issue," the official stressed.
Currently, Finland's borders are secured by small wooden palisades, intended to prevent cattle from crossing.
“What we are looking to build now are sturdy fences that have the effect of real barriers,” explained Sanna Palo, director of legal affairs at the border guards.
"In all likelihood, the fence will not cover the entire eastern border, but will target the places considered most important," she said.
In the event of an influx of migrants, the government's proposal also aims to concentrate asylum seekers at specific points on the border.
The places considered as priorities will be defined later, as well as the budget for the project, said the Ministry of the Interior.
Most of the border runs through very sparsely populated areas.
(AFP)
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