The Finnish government is pushing for an extension of its asylum ban for migrants crossing the closed eastern border with Russia, aiming to extend the law until the end of 2026. This law currently allows asylum requests to be rejected and migrants to be sent back.
Finnish Minister of the Interior, Mari Rantanen, emphasized that the risk of migration being used as a weapon at the eastern border “remains high and unpredictable,” despite the situation being tense but stable.
The government plans to extend the emergency legislation for another year, until July 2026, which grants border guards the authority to block asylum seekers crossing from Russia. The existing law is set to expire on July 21.
To pass the extension, the Finnish government requires the support of three-quarters of the 200-seat parliament. However, it remains unclear whether this will be achievable.
Earlier in March, an independent official from the Finnish Ministry of Justice, who oversees the legality of government actions, argued that the proposal to extend the asylum ban is insufficiently justified.
