Finland to close four Russian border crossings after surge in migrants

Migrants arriving from Russia board a van to be taken to the Joutseno Reception Centre at the Nuijamaa border station between Russia and Finland (Vesa Moilanen/Lehtikuva via AP)

Finland is to close four crossing points on its long border with Russia to stop the flow of Middle Eastern and African migrants that it accuses Moscow of ushering to the border in recent months.

Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo and Interior Minister Mari Rantanen said the south-eastern crossing points – Imatra, Niirala, Nuijamaa and Vaalimaa – will be closed at midnight on Friday.