The TT’s own correspondent Stefan of Helsinki reported on this yesterday;
But today I came across an Afghan lady who told me that she came via Russia. Of course we all know that since summer, some people were coming here via the “arctic route”. But my conversation with this afghan woman brought something new to my attention. She said that people from Iran and Afghanistan (all non-refugees by definition) are now getting Russian visas and go to Moscow. There they have to buy Russian cars and drive to the Finnish border and they can cross it without any problems!!
She told me that her car (which she purchased for 25000 €) broke down about a kilometre away from the Finnish border. She said that then she decided to take her three kids and walk the rest of the way across the border, but the FINNISH BORDER CONTROL told her that unless she is crossing the border by a car they cannot let her pass the border. So she should go back, find a way to fix the car and then if she comes back in her car the Finnish border control has made an agreement with the Russian government to accept all of the “refugees” who would want to cross their border BY CAR, provided that they are not Russian citizens!!!! So she went back and got help to fix her car and then she crossed the border with no problem while driving!
The Russian government has to be involved in this, it’s clear to me that they’re using organized crime as proxies to facilitate the transfer of these people. Some big money is being made by these criminal groups and it stands to reason that the Kremlin is skimming cash from the top.
The entire enterprise serves the Kremlin, in that it puts pressure on the EU in much the same way as the Turks are doing with their promises of unleashing the deluge of Muslim migrants if Europe fails to deliver on the cash. Europe is being played as suckers (with many EU politicians gladly in on the take).
Foreign Minister Soini: Organised crime behind Russian border crossings
Foreign Minister Timo Soini said he wants see stricter measures to reduce the number of asylum seekers crossing the border into Lapland from Russia. Soini attributed the rise in arrivals across the eastern border to organised crime.
Speaking to Yle during a tour of Finns Party ministers in Lapland Friday, Foreign Minister Timo Soini called for more stringent measures to check what he called illegal immigration and migration.
“It seems that harsher actions, even significantly, are necessary. We must put a stop to this illegal immigration and migration,” Soini declared.
“There are means available for that. First of all the Interior Minister and Prime Minister will meet their Russian colleagues. We need quick results. I believe we will get them,” he added.
In response to questions from reporters, Soini avoided directly calling for Finland to close its borders.
“Everything is possible,” he ventured.
Norway has adopted firmer methods than Finland to deal with the arrival of asylum seekers via its Arctic border with Russia. The country has effectively sealed the border to prevent further arrivals. Reporters asked Soini why Finland doesn’t do the same.
“That’s a political decision. Finland has full control of its borders,” he responded.
Ongoing dialogue with Russia, no results yet
Soini disclosed that he had discussed the asylum seeker situation with his Russian counterpart, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at the beginning of December.
“At the time we didn’t make any satisfactory progress, but we at the Foreign Ministry, Interior Ministry and the Prime Minister’s Office are in constant dialogue with Russia. The President and President Putin are also in regular phone contact. We’re in the kind of situation where things can’t continue or worsen. If we don’t go forward by negotiating then it will be time for harsher measures,” Soini remarked.
The Finns Party chair said that the increased asylum seeker traffic from Russia into Lapland was due to organised crime.
“There are human traffickers and people smugglers, organised activities. The President even spoke of escorts and queues. Everything suggests that it is illegal organised immigration and it should be stopped,” he said.
