"The choice in precept goals to utterly forestall Russian tourism to Finland and the associated transit via Finland," Overseas Minister Pekka Haavisto mentioned throughout a information convention.
The federal government justified its determination by saying that continued arrivals of Russian vacationers in Finland is endangering the nation's worldwide relations. It mentioned it had mentioned the difficulty with Ukraine's management, amongst others, forward of the choice.
Haavisto cited safety considerations associated to Russia's warfare in Ukraine, the "unlawful" referendums organized by Russia and up to date leaks within the Nord Stream pipelines as occasions that led to the choice.
Russian residents can nonetheless enter Finland, which shares a 1,340-kilometre land border with Russia, for household causes, for examine or work functions.
Additionally, Russian political dissidents might search to enter the nation for humanitarian functions.
As of September 1, Finland slashed the variety of visas — together with for tourism functions — issued to Russian residents to one-tenth of the standard quantity, a transfer seen as a present of solidarity with Ukraine.
Haavisto had earlier mentioned he was significantly apprehensive a few form of Russian "vacationer route" via Helsinki airport which was utilized by hundreds of Russians earlier than Moscow's February 24 assault on Ukraine.
Till now, Russians have been crossing into Finland earlier than flying to different European nations as a manner of circumventing flight bans imposed after the invasion.