A New Migrant Route Towards Europe

 

Photo source: Euractiv

By Naveed Qazi | Editor, Globe Upfront

Russia’s Arctic and forested borderlands may seem an unlikely gateway into Europe, yet the route is not new. During the migration crisis of 2015–16, thousands of asylum seekers travelled through Russia’s far north and crossed into Finland and Norway, often using bicycles because some border crossings did not permit pedestrians. Reuters and BBC News reported that the route became a source of tension between Nordic governments and Moscow, with officials in Finland and Norway questioning why Russian authorities were allowing migrants to approach border checkpoints. Russia denied facilitating the movement of migrants.

The route largely disappeared after 2016 but re-emerged in late 2023. According to Finland’s Border Guard and reporting by Reuters, nearly 900 asylum seekers arrived at Finland’s eastern border from Russia during November 2023. Finnish authorities stated that most arrivals came from countries including Syria, Iraq, Somalia, Afghanistan and the Palestinian territories. Officials warned that the sudden increase in crossings posed operational and humanitarian challenges given the Arctic conditions.

Finnish leaders argued that the increase in arrivals was not a normal migration phenomenon. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo stated that Russia was assisting people in reaching the border, while President Sauli Niinistö said the pattern appeared to be a response to Finland’s recent accession to NATO. Reuters, BBC News and other international outlets reported these allegations, although the Finnish government did not publicly release evidence demonstrating a centrally coordinated Russian operation. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg expressed support for Finland and stated that the alliance was closely monitoring the situation.

Russia rejected the accusations. Reuters reported that Kremlin officials denied facilitating migration and described Finnish claims as unfounded. Nevertheless, Finnish Border Guard officials told Reuters and Finnish media that Russian authorities had previously prevented many undocumented migrants from approaching border crossings and that this practice appeared to have changed during autumn 2023. Finnish officials described the shift as unusual but stopped short of publicly presenting definitive proof of direct state orchestration.

Additional scrutiny emerged from investigative reporting by Balkan Insight. In November 2023, the outlet analysed videos circulating on Telegram that appeared to show migrants gathering near the Finnish border, some travelling by bicycle and others arriving by bus. The footage also appeared to show individuals resembling Russian law-enforcement or border personnel nearby. Balkan Insight noted that the videos could not be independently verified in every respect, but reported that they added to questions already being raised by Finnish authorities regarding changes in activity on the Russian side of the border.

The broader migration context is relevant. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have documented pushbacks, detention practices and restrictions on asylum access along migration routes through the Balkans and Mediterranean. Migration researchers have frequently observed that stricter controls on one route can redirect movement towards alternative routes, although there is no evidence that such dynamics alone explain the Finland–Russia crossings. Reuters and Finnish media reported that most migrants arriving from Russia in late 2023 submitted asylum applications at official border checkpoints rather than attempting clandestine crossings.

One of the most widely reported features of the episode was the use of bicycles. Finnish Border Guard officials confirmed that bicycles were commonly used because certain crossing points did not permit travel on foot. Reuters and BBC News noted that a similar pattern had been observed during the 2015–16 migration episode on the Norway–Russia frontier.

Finland responded by gradually closing all passenger crossings along its eastern border with Russia. Reuters, BBC News and Finland’s government stated that the measures were intended to safeguard border security and manage asylum procedures in a controlled manner. The government also proceeded with plans to construct a border fence covering roughly 200 kilometres of selected sections of the approximately 1,340-kilometre frontier.

The evidence surrounding Russia’s role remains contested. Reuters, BBC News, Balkan Insight and official Finnish statements establish that migration through the route increased sharply in late 2023, that Russian border practices appeared to change, and that Finland regarded the developments as a security concern. However, publicly available evidence does not conclusively demonstrate the existence of a centrally directed Russian programme to transport migrants to Finnish border crossings. What is documented is a combination of increased arrivals, altered border conditions, competing political interpretations and an escalating dispute between Finland and Russia at a time of heightened tension following Finland’s entry into NATO.