The Finnish government has recently been taking strict measures against Russian citizens. After the war in Ukraine began, many Russians who fled there are being deported en masse, according to the outlet “Vot-Tak.”
According to official data, from January to September of this year, 104 Russians were expelled from the country. The main reason given is the rejection of their asylum applications.
Russian activist Maksim Aliev stated that for two years, asylum applicants in Finland did not undergo any interviews at all. Only from the end of 2024 did interviews begin, and as a result, nearly 90 percent of applications were rejected.
Some Russians, dissatisfied with the decision, filed complaints in court. Others reapplied for asylum. However, the Finnish Migration Service does not consider the main reason — fleeing mobilization in Russia — to be sufficient grounds. Officials argue that mobilization in Russia has officially ended, and therefore this reason is not considered valid.
Because of this, some citizens were forcibly deported. In the first eight months of 2025, 18 people were expelled in this way. They were usually sent via Turkey or Estonia, as direct borders with Russia remain closed.
At the same time, some people did manage to obtain asylum. These were mainly individuals openly dissatisfied with Russian government decisions or former deputies subjected to political persecution.
Experts believe this situation indicates that in the future, European countries’ migration policies may become even stricter.
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