An administrative court in Finland has overturned a decision denying asylum to Russian citizens Olga and Nikita Belov and ordered the immigration service to re-examine their request, the Guardian reported, citing the family's lawyer.
The Belovs' lawyer, who spoke to the outlet on condition of anonymity, said the family had provided "many new pieces of evidence" of possible persecution in Russia. Antti Lehtinen, director of the international protection department at Finland's immigration service, said he could not comment on individual cases but added that only about 5% of the agency's decisions are returned for reconsideration each year.
The Belovs left Russia after the start of the war in Ukraine. Nikita Belov previously said he left because he discovered he had been working on a secret project related to the war in Ukraine. According to the young man, when he refused to continue the work, "the situation quickly escalated." TV Rain reported that Belov left because of work on an "unnamed secret project" at the Bardin Central Research Institute of Ferrous Metallurgy (TsNIIchermet).
In Finland, the Belovs actively helped Ukrainian refugees and cooperated with the volunteer organization FinEst Volunteers in the city of Uusikaupunki. They organized information pickets and raised funds, including for first-aid kits for the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other army needs. Because of this activity, the family fears a treason case in Russia.
In April, the Belovs were summoned to the police, where they were told that the deportation process had begun. Soon after, the Russians were taken into custody. The Helsinki Administrative Court on April 27 suspended the deportation order. Later, consuls of the Anti-War Committee managed to get the deportation of the activists suspended through court.
Finnish authorities previously said the Belovs' activities in support of Ukraine were "small-scale." In the immigration service's view, they do not make the couple objects of special interest to Russian authorities and "do not create a real threat of serious human rights violations upon return." Lawyers disagree and note that collecting financial and material aid for the Ukrainian army and refugees is unambiguously treated by Russia as a criminal offense.
Olga Belova called the court's decision the first positive news in four years marred by "constant uncertainty and fear of deportation." The family's lawyer expressed hope that the Belovs will soon be granted asylum.
Since the start of the war in Ukraine, more than 2,300 Russians have applied for asylum in Finland, but only 604 Russian citizens have received status, politician Andrei Pivovarov wrote. About three out of four Russians are denied international protection in Finland. At the same time, the immigration service acknowledges a threefold increase in the number of convictions in political cases in Russia.
In August, Finland denied asylum to another anti-war Russian, Valentin Sergienko, who participated in protests and sent donations, including to FBK and OVD-Info. In the authorities' view, the risk of his persecution in Russia is insufficient. Sergienko was summoned to the police and warned of a possible start of deportation proceedings — he is appealing that decision.