Finland's parliament today approved the controversial law that gives border guards the power to turn back asylum seekers crossing from Russia.

In the decisive vote, 167 representatives voted to pass the legislation urgently, which Prime Minister Petteri Orpo called a "super majority" at a press conference in Helsinki. According to national broadcaster Yle, 31 members voted against the bill.

The legislation allows the Nordic country's border authorities to refuse asylum applications under certain circumstances at Finland's border points from Russia. Now by law, immigrants can leave without a right of appeal.

Orpo stressed that the adopted law sends a "strong message to Russia" and that the decision speaks of Finland's concern for its borders and security.

Earlier this month, over 200 researchers from various universities in Finland and abroad signed a petition calling on the parliament's administration committee to reject a controversial deportation bill.

The researchers argue that the Finnish government has failed to prove that an increase in the number of asylum seekers would represent a security threat to Finland. The petition argued that the number of people seeking asylum in Finland last year was within normal levels, reports Yle.

Critics say the enactment of the deportation law goes against the Finnish constitution as well as several international treaties that Finland has signed. But according to Orpo, the government "made sure that Finland is still a rule of law". He stressed the importance of finding a "European solution" to the situation. /AA