Finland Suggests That Russia Prohibits Bicycle Crossings of Mutual Border

The Finnish authorities appealed to Moscow with a proposal to prohibit bicycle crossings on certain checkpoints on the border between the states, citing safety concerns, local media reported.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The proposal concerns the Salla and the Raja-Jooseppi checkpoints on the northern part of the border, but it does not affect the Imatra checkpoint, according to the Yle news outlet.

"These border checkpoints have been opened to traffic, and there are no separate roads for cyclists," Lt. Col. Jaakko Ritola of the Finnish border guard said, as cited by the media on Saturday.

Moscow has not yet responded to the proposal, according to the news outlet.

In recent weeks, Finland has been receiving an increased number of asylum-seekers who arrive by Bicycle across Russia using the legal loophole, while crossing the border on foot is prohibited.

Amid a major migrant crisis unravelling in Europe, Finland expects to receive up to 35,000 asylum seekers this year, mainly from Iraq.