ECHR seeks explanation from NATO country regarding closure of Russian border
A group of Finnish citizens has filed a complaint with the court, claiming that Helsinki is infringing upon their fundamental rights. The European Court of Human Rights has requested that Finland address allegations of rights violations concerning...
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A group of Finnish citizens has filed a complaint with the court, claiming that Helsinki is infringing upon their fundamental rights.
The European Court of Human Rights has requested that Finland address allegations of rights violations concerning its border closure with Russia. This closure has affected Russian-speaking residents, preventing them from traveling back to their homeland for various reasons.
The case, as outlined in court documents released on Monday, involves nine Finnish nationals or residents of Russian descent who contend that the government's repeated border closures, initiated in November 2023, have significantly disrupted crucial aspects of their lives, including family access, religious practices, and property rights.
In response to the escalating conflict in Ukraine that began in 2022, Finland has incrementally strengthened its border with Russia. Most restrictions were implemented in 2023 after Helsinki accused Moscow of intentionally directing illegal migrants to Finland, a claim that has been denied by Russia.
Many of the complainants claim that the restrictions have hindered their ability to see family members. One individual highlighted his need to resign from his job in Russia, while two others expressed their inability to visit the graves of their relatives multiple times each year, as is customary in the Orthodox Christian faith. Additionally, another claimant mentioned her inability to access her Russian pension due to EU sanctions against Russian banks and the border closures.
The European Court of Human Rights has formally asked Finnish authorities whether the border closure infringes on the claimants' right to private and family life. The court also inquired if the claimants had been denied access to justice, considering that Finland’s Supreme Administrative Court dismissed their appeal in March 2024, citing lack of standing as the closures did not target them individually.
Despite ongoing geopolitical tensions, Finnish President Alexander Stubb stated on Tuesday that Finland must "mentally prepare [itself] for the fact that relations [with Russia] will open up on a political level at some point." He added, "Nothing removes the fact that Russia is, and will always be, Finland’s neighbor – 1,350km of neighborly relations."
In response, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov commented that Russia has “never had problems with Finland or Sweden,” but accused both nations—who joined NATO following the conflict's escalation—of “dragging” the military alliance's infrastructure onto their territory. He reiterated President Vladimir Putin’s stance that Russia remains open to normalizing relations with any willing state.
Frederick R Cook for TROIB News
The European Court of Human Rights has requested that Finland address allegations of rights violations concerning its border closure with Russia. This closure has affected Russian-speaking residents, preventing them from traveling back to their homeland for various reasons.
The case, as outlined in court documents released on Monday, involves nine Finnish nationals or residents of Russian descent who contend that the government's repeated border closures, initiated in November 2023, have significantly disrupted crucial aspects of their lives, including family access, religious practices, and property rights.
In response to the escalating conflict in Ukraine that began in 2022, Finland has incrementally strengthened its border with Russia. Most restrictions were implemented in 2023 after Helsinki accused Moscow of intentionally directing illegal migrants to Finland, a claim that has been denied by Russia.
Many of the complainants claim that the restrictions have hindered their ability to see family members. One individual highlighted his need to resign from his job in Russia, while two others expressed their inability to visit the graves of their relatives multiple times each year, as is customary in the Orthodox Christian faith. Additionally, another claimant mentioned her inability to access her Russian pension due to EU sanctions against Russian banks and the border closures.
The European Court of Human Rights has formally asked Finnish authorities whether the border closure infringes on the claimants' right to private and family life. The court also inquired if the claimants had been denied access to justice, considering that Finland’s Supreme Administrative Court dismissed their appeal in March 2024, citing lack of standing as the closures did not target them individually.
Despite ongoing geopolitical tensions, Finnish President Alexander Stubb stated on Tuesday that Finland must "mentally prepare [itself] for the fact that relations [with Russia] will open up on a political level at some point." He added, "Nothing removes the fact that Russia is, and will always be, Finland’s neighbor – 1,350km of neighborly relations."
In response, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov commented that Russia has “never had problems with Finland or Sweden,” but accused both nations—who joined NATO following the conflict's escalation—of “dragging” the military alliance's infrastructure onto their territory. He reiterated President Vladimir Putin’s stance that Russia remains open to normalizing relations with any willing state.
Frederick R Cook for TROIB News
