@anderssonli: It is our moral obligation to support the Ukrainians fighting for independence and against Putin's authoritarianism, and it is in our own interest to do so. Likewise, it is in our interest to support democratic Russian opposition forces that share these objectives. This means engaging in dialogue and recognizing the diversity of actors in Russian civil society, including those representing linguistic and ethnic minorities. It means supporting independent media and providing refuge in Europe for those who really need it. We should not send back LGBTQI+ people or those resisting Putin and his war on Ukraine. In Finland, there has been public debate around a young Russian activist who fled the country almost four years ago. Since May, he has been facing deportation to Russia following a negative asylum decision. He has been involved in anti-war activism and activities around the LGBTQI+ community in Russia and also during his stay in Finland. He also has connections to Ukraine. The Finnish Immigration Service ruled that he was not eligible for international protection. Appeals were also dismissed. The decision stated that he “could not be considered a person of particular interest to the Russian authorities”, that the way he had spoken about his sexual identity has “remained limited and superficial”, and that there was “no reason to believe” he would be at risk of “serious human rights violations” if he returned to Russia. Nevertheless, many NGOs and experts have emphasized that the Russian authorities act very arbitrarily and detain people for trivial reasons. Furthermore, the human rights situation in Russia has deteriorated significantly as the war has continued. This is something that the man facing deportation has pointed out, highlighting his background in Russian opposition movements. This is the reality that should be reflected in the actions and interpretations of the Finnish authorities. It is in our own interest to support the democratic opposition forces in Russia and also provide refuge for those in Europe who really need it.

Li

Open In TikTok:

Region: FI

Monday 13 July 2026 14:49:10 GMT