A Russian family was denied asylum for a second time in Finland
In Finland, Nikita and Olga Belov, who fled Russia—the aggressor state—in 2022, have once again been denied asylum. The mother and son claim that if they return to Moscow, they could face arrest, imprisonment, and torture because of their anti-war stance and public support for Ukraine, according to The Guardian.
Nikita Belov, 25, worked as an engineer at a Moscow research institute specializing in metallurgical technologies. He says he decided to quit after learning that his work was linked to Russia’s military needs. Belov claims that his supervisor threatened him with arrest or being sent to the front lines. He says the military called his mother, and the police came to their home.
After arriving in Finland on visas, the Belovs joined the efforts of a local Ukrainian center and helped with humanitarian aid. In particular, they helped distribute first-aid kits, food, clothing, Starlink equipment, and a 3D printer. At the same time, the Finnish Immigration Service informed the mother and son that it did not see any real risk to them if they returned to Russia.
For more breaking news, follow the UA.News Telegram channel.
In April, the Belovs were detained pending deportation. After the court intervened, they were released and allowed to return home pending a final decision. Their attorney, who asked that his name not be disclosed for security reasons, believes that if deported, the family would most likely be in danger. He also noted that the risk could be exacerbated by Nikita’s previous work and his access to confidential government information.
According to official statistics, from February 2022 to June 2026, the Finnish Immigration Service deported 1,039 Russian citizens—the highest number among all nationalities. During the same period, 1,109 out of 1,342 Russians were denied entry into the country due to a negative decision on their asylum application.
Antti Lehtinen, Director of the International Protection Department at the Finnish Immigration Service, stated that each application is assessed on a case-by-case basis. According to him, opposition to the war against Ukraine and related activities may constitute grounds for international protection if the applicant faces persecution or serious harm in Russia.
