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 Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas

The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas

This exciting new trilogy by a Russian author – who has been compared to Orhan Pamuk and Umberto Eco – vividly recreates a lost world, yet its passions and characters are entirely relevant to the present day. Full of mystery, memorable characters, and non-stop adventure, The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas is a must read for lovers of historical fiction and international thrillers.  
Maria's War: A Soldier's Autobiography

Maria's War: A Soldier's Autobiography

This astonishingly gripping autobiography by the founder of the Russian Women’s Death Battallion in World War I is an eye-opening documentary of life before, during and after the Bolshevik Revolution.
Murder at the Dacha

Murder at the Dacha

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin has a problem. Several, actually. Not the least of them is the fact that a powerful Soviet boss has been murdered, and Matyushkin's surly commander has given him an unreasonably short time frame to close the case.
Fearful Majesty

Fearful Majesty

This acclaimed biography of one of Russia’s most important and tyrannical rulers is not only a rich, readable biography, it is also surprisingly timely, revealing how many of the issues Russia faces today have their roots in Ivan’s reign.
Steppe / Степь (bilingual)

Steppe / Степь (bilingual)

This is the work that made Chekhov, launching his career as a writer and playwright of national and international renown. Retranslated and updated, this new bilingual edition is a super way to improve your Russian.
The Frogs Who Begged for a Tsar (bilingual)

The Frogs Who Begged for a Tsar (bilingual)

The fables of Ivan Krylov are rich fonts of Russian cultural wisdom and experience – reading and understanding them is vital to grasping the Russian worldview. This new edition of 62 of Krylov’s tales presents them side-by-side in English and Russian. The wonderfully lyrical translations by Lydia Razran Stone are accompanied by original, whimsical color illustrations by Katya Korobkina.
A Taste of Chekhov

A Taste of Chekhov

This compact volume is an introduction to the works of Chekhov the master storyteller, via nine stories spanning the last twenty years of his life.
At the Circus (bilingual)

At the Circus (bilingual)

This wonderful novella by Alexander Kuprin tells the story of the wrestler Arbuzov and his battle against a renowned American wrestler. Rich in detail and characterization, At the Circus brims with excitement and life. You can smell the sawdust in the big top, see the vivid and colorful characters, sense the tension build as Arbuzov readies to face off against the American.
Davai! The Russians and Their Vodka

Davai! The Russians and Their Vodka

In this comprehensive, quixotic and addictive book, Edwin Trommelen explores all facets of the Russian obsession with vodka. Peering chiefly through the lenses of history and literature, Trommelen offers up an appropriately complex, rich and bittersweet portrait, based on great respect for Russian culture.

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