– There are strong reasons to consider closing the border to Russians. Especially because of the decision Finland has made. We must not be naive, says leader of the justice committee Per-Willy Amundsen (Frp). The FRP asks Justice Minister Emilie Enger Mehl (Sp) to come to the Storting as soon as possible to provide information on the situation. But once again the government is behind. It is important that they show leadership now. Leader of the justice committee Per-Willy Amundsen (Frp) believes that there are strong reasons to close the border with Russia. Photo: Håkon Benjaminsen / news – I absolutely believe that the government should follow our neighbors and see how they handle this. The moment the neighboring countries close the borders, the influx will increase, says second deputy chairman of the justice committee Sveinung Stensland (H). Calls for a plan The Conservatives believe that the control of the country’s outer border is the government’s responsibility from hour to hour. Here the government must look at austerity measures. – Many of the Russians who come are fleeing Putin’s mobilization in Ukraine, why shouldn’t Norway accept them? – It is certainly a dilemma in this case that they flee from terrible war events and fear having to participate in that war. At the same time, we also know that in such scenarios there are many people who travel for other purposes than escaping from Putin’s regime, says Stensland. Second deputy chairman of the justice committee Sveinung Stensland (H) is calling for a plan from the government. Photo: Olav Døvik / news – Therefore we must not be naive, we must have control at the outer border and I fear that we are not prepared if we get the same influx as at the Finnish border. He points out that when other neighboring countries tighten up, Norway should also know how to handle it. Stensland is also calling for a plan from the government on how to deal with it. – I don’t think it’s being dealt with now, it’s a “wait and see” attitude, and it won’t last. I asked a question several days ago and have not received an answer. The government has not yet made a statement, says Stensland. news has tried to get Minister of Justice Emilie Enger Mehl (Sp) to speak in the Politisk kvarter and has asked for a comment since Thursday morning, without success. Finland closes its borders The Finnish government confirmed during a press conference on Thursday that it will close its borders to Russian tourists. On Friday, the new entry rules will come into force. This means that Russian citizens with an entry visa are no longer allowed to cross the border into Finland. According to Finland’s Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto, exceptions will be made for family visits, work and studies. Russians queue at the Vaalimaa border checkpoint between Finland and Russia in Virolahti, eastern Finland, on Wednesday 28 September. Photo: Sasu M’kinen / AP Tens of thousands of Russian citizens have crossed the border into Finland recently. The government expects that the numbers will now drop significantly. Finland already announced earlier this week stricter visa rules for Russian citizens. Last week, between 19 and 25 September, more than 40,000 Russian citizens arrived in the country, according to figures from the EU’s border control agency Frontex. Traffic across the border continues At 08:00 on Thursday morning, the border between Norway and Russia at Storskog was opened. On Thursday, six or seven Russian cars crossed the border and seven or eight people on bicycles. Over Storskog by bike. It is not, however, the same great attraction by young Russian men as it has been in recent days. It is also felt on the Finnish side, reports the public broadcaster Yle. In total, just under 4,300 Russians arrived in Finland on Wednesday. On Tuesday, there were 2,200 more Russian arrivals. There have been rumors in Russian independent media that the borders will be closed to men of mobilization age. – We will have to make an assessment of that if it is actually closed. Now three cars just arrived from Russia, so it’s clearly not closed yet, border commissioner Jens-Arne Høilund told NTB at 8.30am. Border Commissioner Jens-Arne Høilund at the Norwegian-Russian border at Storskog. Photo: Lise Åserud / NTB Traffic over Storskog stopped on Wednesday afternoon. The Finnmark police district states that it has suddenly become quiet on the border. – The traffic over Storskog into Norway stopped at 1.15pm on Wednesday, writes Sølve Solheim, section leader for operational immigration control in the Finnmark police district. It was then uncertain whether Russia had introduced restrictions on departure or whether it was due to normal fluctuations. There is still little traffic over the border station at Storskog in Sør-Varanger, but in recent days it has increased, according to the Finnmark police district. Photo: Stian Strøm / news On Wednesday, 295 people crossed the border from Russia, 108 traveled out of Norway. On Tuesday, a total of 458 people entered across the border to Norway, while 140 traveled out. Norway and several other countries have noticed an increase in Russians fleeing after the authorities announced a partial mobilization for the war in Ukraine.
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