Finland halts deportation of Russian anti-war activist Roman Golikov

Finland's Supreme Administrative Court has suspended deportation proceedings against Russian anti-war activist Roman Golikov, who had previously been denied asylum. The case was reported on May 26 by Svetlana Utkina, a former St. Petersburg municipal deputy now living in Finland.

Finland's Supreme Administrative Court has stepped in to halt the deportation of Roman Golikov, a Russian anti-war activist who had been denied asylum in the country. The court's intervention temporarily suspends proceedings that would have seen Golikov returned to Russia, where he could face serious consequences for his opposition to the war.

The news was shared on May 26 by [Svetlana Utkina](/politicians/svetlana-utkina), a former municipal deputy from St. Petersburg who now resides in Finland. Utkina disclosed the development through independent Russian television channel Dozhd, which has been closely following cases of Russians seeking refuge in Europe due to their anti-war stance.

Golikov's case is one of several high-profile instances in which European courts have had to weigh the risks faced by Russian anti-war activists against national asylum and immigration policies. Finland, which shares a long border with Russia and joined NATO in 2023, has faced increasing scrutiny over how it handles asylum applications from Russian citizens fleeing political persecution.

The suspension by the Supreme Administrative Court does not constitute a final ruling but provides Golikov with temporary protection while his case is reconsidered. Human rights advocates have argued that returning anti-war activists to Russia exposes them to prosecution under laws that criminalize public opposition to the military campaign in Ukraine.