Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen (Centre) said on Thursday that if the Georgian women who were refused entry into Finland have been unfairly stigmatised, the reputations of both their reputation, and those of the Frontier Guard personnel who have been accused of improper behaviour in the case, can be cleaned up when Finnish and Georgian officials examine the events.
Speaking during Parliamentary question time on Thursday, Vanhanen emphasised that the women on the bus were never accused of any crimes. They were also provided with interpretation in their own language, and Finnish officials sought to take all possible measures to protect them.
Vanhanen praised Finnish Frontier Guard personnel, saying that they were "among the most professional in the world".
He also defended the refusal to allow entry, saying that the tour group corresponded to the descriptions that Greece had given when it warned other EU countries of possible trafficking in humans.
