Border zone in Russian Karelia grows in some places, shrinks in others

Officials assure worried Finns: Nostalgia tourism will continue

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Russian officials hope to assuage concern felt by many Finns over changes to the restricted zone in Russian Karelia.
      The zone along the Finnish border remains largely the same as the one that was introduced in March 2003, Russian border officials say.
      At that time, the Republic of Karelia officially decided on the demarcation of the restricted area.
     
"In Karelia, the border zone has narrowed in some places", says Lieutenant-General Anatoly Zabrodin in Moscow.
      He says that the zone along the Finnish border is 5-25 kilometres wide.
      The new zone is based on orders from the Russian Security Service FSB. The border guard service became part of the FSB in 2003.
      At the request of Helsingin Sanomat, Zabrodin produced a map showing the demarcation of the new zone in the Republic of Karelia. The map shows that the zone has become wider in places.
     
The former Finnish city of Vyborg, a popular destination for Finnish visitors, is located in the neighbouring region of Leningrad, and remains outside the border zone.
      The new border zone has been in force since the third of December.
     
Both the Finnish Border Guard and Finnish tour operators arranging travel by Finns to Russian Karelia expressed concern about the new zone and the accompanying changes to movement there.
      "I want to emphasise that the new orders have not worsened the situation for people moving around in the area", Zabrodin says.
      According to the Russian border guard service, "nostalgia travellers" will be allowed into communities within the border zone with special permits, which the tour operators can apply for.
      Private travellers, who are not part of a tour group, can also apply for such a permit. Applications can be submitted by e-mail and telefax, and the permit is given to the traveller by border guard officials upon arrival in the area.
      The permits themselves are free of charge, but travel agencies that serve as intermediaries can charge for their services.
     
People found in the zone without permission face a fine of up to 500 roubles, or just under EUR 15. Zabrodin notes that as an anti-corruption measure, the fines are paid through a bank, and not in cash.
      No special permits are required for transit through the border zone; an ordinary visa for travel to Russia is sufficient.
     
Changes are being made to border zones all over Russia. Zabrodin says that the goal of the new zones is to ensure national security.
      However, he says that the changes are not "dogmas"; they can be analysed, and corrected if necessary.
      He also notes that the border between Finland and Russia has been very peaceful.
     
Zabrodin observes that during the Soviet years, the border zone included a significant portion of Karelia, such as Sortavala, Lahdenpohja, and Suojärvi.
      The border zone was at its narrowest in 2001 when it was set at five kilometres. Russian officials say that this led to increased illegal immigration and crime in the zone.
      Consequently, it was altered in March 2003, and most recently, late last year.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Russia announces substantial expansion of border zone in Karelia (13.12.2006)

Helsingin Sanomat