Finland plans more measures to stop asylum surge from Russia border

Prime Minister Petteri Orpo of Finland briefs Finnish media in a press conference in Helsinki, Finland, November 22, 2023. Lehtikuva/via REUTERS/File Photo

HELSINKI (Reuters) - Finland may take more measures to stop an unusually large increase in asylum seekers crossing the border from Russia in what the country and its allies say is an orchestrated move by Moscow, the prime minister said on Monday.

Some 900 asylum seekers from nations including Afghanistan, Kenya, Morocco, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria and Yemen have entered Finland from Russia in November, an increase from less than one per day previously, according to the Finnish Border Guard.