Finland Halts Deportation of Russian Family Opposed to Ukraine Invasion, Citing New Evidence
Finland has halted the deportation of a Russian mother and son, Olga and Nikita Belov, who fled Russia in 2022 due to their opposition to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The administrative court quashed an earlier decision by the Finnish immigration service that stated the family faced “no real risk” if they returned to Russia. The court cited new evidence, including extensive media coverage of their case, and referred it back to the immigration service for reconsideration. The Belovs have been vocal supporters of Ukraine since arriving in Finland, sending humanitarian aid, including to the Ukrainian armed forces. Nikita Belov, 25, left his engineering job in Moscow after discovering his work was connected to the Russian war effort. Olga Belov, 55, a nurse anesthetist, expressed that while the court's decision was positive, it was overshadowed by constant uncertainty and fear of deportation, which has taken a toll on her health. 
