Increased electronic surveillance
Finland’s border to Russia is increasingly being guarded with surveillance equipment, with personnel watching computer screens instead of patrolling the bush.
With the improved technology, mainly used on the southernmost border areas, Finland claims its border to Russia is one of the most closely guarded in the world, writes Helsingin Sanomat.
There are however no plans for electronic surveillance of the entire length of the border, like along the border in the vast areas in Northern Finland. -There is no need to build a new electronic Berlin Wall, says Harri Ahonen, system chief of the Finnish Border Guards, interviewed by Helsingin Sanomat.
A key reason for more electronic surveillance is the decrease in personnel. The number of employees has had to be cut for budgetary reasons.
As BarentsObserver reported in September, some 200 people have tried to enter Finland illegally from Russia so far this year. Most of the attempts are stopped by Finnish border guards.
