Finland must prepare for refugee flow via Russia: president

Finnish President Sauli Niinisto on Friday expressed concern over a possible rise in the number of refugees trying to enter Finland via Russia.

In the current refugee crisis, nearly all refugees have entered Finland via its western neighbor Sweden. Refugee flow via Russia has gone across the land border into Norway, and very few people have crossed into Finland so far.

Niinisto referred to toughened Norwegian measures and said the focus could shift to Finland, if Finnish criteria are easier than those in Norway.

Niinisto said that as joint European solutions have not been found, countries take national decisions.

"We have seen clearly elsewhere in Europe that neighboring countries are watched. What one country does, the other will repeat," he said. Endit