Petition No 0601/2024 by Alexey Bulavtsev (Finnish), on behalf of association ‘Aleksanterinliitto ry’, on Finland's decision to close the Finnish-Russian border

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Petition data

0601/2024
Summary title: Petition No 0601/2024 by Alexey Bulavtsev (Finnish), on behalf of association ‘Aleksanterinliitto ry’, on Finland's decision to close the Finnish-Russian border
Petition number: 0601/2024
Topics: Fundamental Rights,  Asylum,  Immigration,  Personal Matter,  Transport
Country: Finland
Name of association: Aleksanterinliitto ry

Petitioner data

Name: Alexey Bulavtsev

Petition Summary

The petitioner refers to the decision of the Finnish government to completely close the Finnish-Russian border in a response to the hybrid attack of the Russian Federation on Finland. He alleges that the public has not been informed of any facts that could link the problem of higher than usual number of asylum seekers at the Finnish border to Russia's presumed hybrid attack on Finland. According to the petitioner, this decision had a negative impact on Finnish families with family ties to the Russian Federation, as it had become difficult for legitimate residents of Finland to travel to Russia. The petitioner alleges that the closure of the land border by the Finnish authorities has a negative impact on the conditions of the inhabitants of the Finnish regions bordering Russia and would damage the economy in eastern Finland. He states that even the postal service between Finland and Russia has been discontinued, which is why the right of Finnish residents to family life guaranteed by Article 12 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is limited. According to the petitioner, Finland is likely to be in breach of EU law, firstly because Finland’s entry and transit ban on all Russian citizens entering the EU for tourist purposes is in breach of Article 6, paragraph 1 (e) of Regulation (EU) 2016/399 and Regulation (EU) 2018/1806. Secondly, in view of the petitioner, the closure of the Finnish-Russian border following cases of asylum seekers from third countries crossing the border infringes Article 26 of Regulation (EU) 2016/399 and Article 27 of Directive 2004/38/EC. The petitioner asks the European Commission to issue a regulation to the Finnish government to correct the allegedly illegal acts.