(Bloomberg) -- Finland’s government decided to heavily curtail Russian tourist arrivals into the country, including stopping people from transiting through the Nordic nation. 

Finland will stop issuing tourist visas to Russians and plans to invalidate their tourist visas at the border, Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto told reporters on Thursday. The decision comes into force on Friday. 

“We’ve never wanted to be a transit country for tourism,” Haavisto said, adding the restrictions are also intended to stop Russians flying to other countries via the Helsinki airport.

The Nordic country cited potential harm to its international relations as a reason for the move, and said mobilization in Russia contributed to the decision. More people are expected to seek protection and attempt to cross the 1,300-kilometer (800-mile) border illegally, Interior Minister Krista Mikkonen said.

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