November 16, 2023

A Bespoke Ban


A Bespoke Ban
A bike in Helsinki, Finland. Tony Yakovlenko, Unsplash.

As of November 9, the Finnish Border Guard Service has implemented a prohibition on bicycles entering the country from Russia.

Lieutenant Colonel Jukka Lukkari, Deputy Commander of the Border Guard of South-Eastern Finland, outlined a notable surge since August in individuals attempting to enter Finland through checkpoints on the southeastern border without proper entry documentation (and in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine). A total 91 instances were documented, many involving third-country nationals utilizing Russia as a transit route to seek asylum in Finland.

Luccari highlighted that, within the past week, approximately 30 individuals attempting illegal entry into Finland opted to use bicycles. This prompted the imposition of the ban. A spokesperson from the Finnish border services said, "From Finland's point of view, it is quite justified to focus control on road transport. This will help to better control traffic across the border.”

Luccari specified that about three thousand people cross the country's eastern border in both directions every day through the border crossings of Vaalimaa, Nuyjamaa, and Imatra in South-Eastern Finland. Earlier this year, Russian motorized vehicles were also banned from making the crossing.

You Might Also Like

The Saami's Story
  • April 28, 2006

The Saami's Story

The Saami people (Russian population: 1,800) struggle to survive as a small national group in Russia.
A Travel Uptick?
  • November 14, 2022

A Travel Uptick?

Even as the invasion of Ukraine continues, internal sources say that Russians are traveling once again.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

The Latchkey Murders
July 01, 2015

The Latchkey Murders

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin is back on the case in this prequel to the popular mystery Murder at the Dacha, in which a serial killer is on the loose in Khrushchev’s Moscow...

A Taste of Russia
November 01, 2012

A Taste of Russia

The definitive modern cookbook on Russian cuisine has been totally updated and redesigned in a 30th Anniversary Edition. Layering superbly researched recipes with informative essays on the dishes' rich historical and cultural context, A Taste of Russia includes over 200 recipes on everything from borshch to blini, from Salmon Coulibiac to Beef Stew with Rum, from Marinated Mushrooms to Walnut-honey Filled Pies. A Taste of Russia shows off the best that Russian cooking has to offer. Full of great quotes from Russian literature about Russian food and designed in a convenient wide format that stays open during use.

The Little Humpbacked Horse
November 03, 2014

The Little Humpbacked Horse

A beloved Russian classic about a resourceful Russian peasant, Vanya, and his miracle-working horse, who together undergo various trials, exploits and adventures at the whim of a laughable tsar, told in rich, narrative poetry.

93 Untranslatable Russian Words
December 01, 2008

93 Untranslatable Russian Words

Every language has concepts, ideas, words and idioms that are nearly impossible to translate into another language. This book looks at nearly 100 such Russian words and offers paths to their understanding and translation by way of examples from literature and everyday life. Difficult to translate words and concepts are introduced with dictionary definitions, then elucidated with citations from literature, speech and prose, helping the student of Russian comprehend the word/concept in context.

Russian Rules
November 16, 2011

Russian Rules

From the shores of the White Sea to Moscow and the Northern Caucasus, Russian Rules is a high-speed thriller based on actual events, terrifying possibilities, and some really stupid decisions.

The Samovar Murders
November 01, 2019

The Samovar Murders

The murder of a poet is always more than a murder. When a famous writer is brutally stabbed on the campus of Moscow’s Lumumba University, the son of a recently deposed African president confesses, and the case assumes political implications that no one wants any part of.

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955