Finland halts deportation of Russian family who aided Ukraine

The Helsinki Administrative Court has suspended the deportation of two Russian asylum seekers, Nikita Belov and his mother Olga Belova, following widespread media coverage of their case, Yle reports.

The pair learned of the decision while detained at a Helsinki removal centre. Olga Belova initially struggled to believe the news. “I told Nikita it couldn’t be true—ask the lawyer again,” she said. “The fear was so overwhelming it’s impossible to describe.” Her son said he only accepted it as real after receiving the legal documents.

Finland’s Immigration Service (Migri) does not comment on individual cases, but lead specialist Melanie Soini told Yle that administrative courts can overturn Migri decisions, returning applications for reassessment. Common grounds include new evidence or arguments in asylum claims.

Soini confirmed that opposition to Russia’s war in Ukraine may qualify as political persecution. “If we determine that such beliefs or actions put someone at risk of persecution or serious harm in Russia, we grant international protection,” she said.

The Belovs submitted additional materials to the court, citing media attention and statements from exiled Russian opposition figures. Olga, a former anaesthesia nurse, said their 2022 move to Finland was driven by her son’s situation. “It was an incredibly difficult decision,” she admitted.

Nikita, then 25, had worked at a Moscow metallurgy research institute repurposed for military production after the invasion. “They tried to force me into war-related projects,” he said. “I refused, and the pressure started—threats, harassment.” Draft notices followed, prompting their departure using valid visas.

Originally planning a holiday, they instead surrendered to Helsinki police upon arrival in June 2022, spending six weeks in a reception centre before relocation to Uusikaupunki. There, they joined local activists sending aid—medical supplies, equipment—to Ukraine and staging anti-war protests.

Despite their uncertain status, Olga said helping Ukraine was “a matter of conviction, not how we’re judged.” Nikita echoed her: “Our principles come first.”

Migri initially rejected their claim in April, ruling they faced no risk of persecution in Russia. The Belovs appealed, citing reports of crackdowns on war dissent. Finnish authorities had deemed the evidence insufficient until the court’s intervention.