Finnish documentary crew fined for straying into Russian border zone

Finnish journalist Jaakko Keso and his documentary crew were fined for inadvertently crossing into a restricted zone near the Russian border. Keso, who was exploring the Imatra region with an American friend and a local guide, stated that a misunderstanding led the group into the border zone. The group was quickly apprehended by the border guard.

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The situation was confusing.

The Border Guard confirmed the incident to Helsingin Sanomat. Keso explained that their intention was to get a closer look at the border after hearing about its impact on the local economy and daily life. He described the situation as confusing and admitted that the group ended up in the prohibited area due to a series of miscommunications.

Each member of the group received a penalty of 14 day-fines for the minor state border violation. Keso noted the efficiency of the border guard, who located them within half an hour of the transgression. He also mentioned that their van, which was visibly branded with advertising for their documentary series, might have aided in their swift identification.

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The border guards were really nice and cheerful and reassured us that we could get through this with fines.

Despite the fines and personal regret, Keso found the experience of witnessing the border control's effectiveness fascinating. He also mentioned that the incident did not cause significant problems for his American friend, who was concerned about his status as a foreigner. The crew had been filming a documentary series for Yle, titled 'Tämä on Suomi' (This is Finland), and were scheduled to continue filming until July.

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even though the fines and my own stupidity are annoying, it was fascinating to see how effectively border control works.