Finnish authorities deported 104 Russian citizens between January and September after their asylum applications were rejected, public broadcaster Yle reported on 28 November. Most of the deportees had fled conscription and waited an average of 2.5 years for a decision. Police confirmed that 18 individuals who refused voluntary departure were escorted to Turkey or Estonia.
The Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) maintains that the threat of Russian military draft alone does not meet the threshold for international protection, though exemptions are possible if applicants risk involvement in war crimes. Decisions are taken case-by-case, factoring in updated country information and individual circumstances.
![Finland Deports 104 Russian Draft Evaders After Rejecting Asylum Claims]()
Finland closed its 1,340-kilometre land border with Russia in late 2023 over concerns of ‘instrumentalised migration’. While crossings remain shut, asylum claims can still be lodged at airports and seaports or from detention. The deportations underscore Helsinki’s hardening stance after a record 1,300 undocumented arrivals from Russia in autumn 2023.
For global mobility managers the message is clear: Russian nationals seeking relocation to Finland face stricter scrutiny, and companies should prepare for longer processing times and a higher rejection rate. Employers sponsoring Russian talent may need to emphasise work-based residence permits rather than humanitarian routes, ensuring documentation is complete and contingency plans are in place.
The Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) maintains that the threat of Russian military draft alone does not meet the threshold for international protection, though exemptions are possible if applicants risk involvement in war crimes. Decisions are taken case-by-case, factoring in updated country information and individual circumstances.
Finland closed its 1,340-kilometre land border with Russia in late 2023 over concerns of ‘instrumentalised migration’. While crossings remain shut, asylum claims can still be lodged at airports and seaports or from detention. The deportations underscore Helsinki’s hardening stance after a record 1,300 undocumented arrivals from Russia in autumn 2023.
For global mobility managers the message is clear: Russian nationals seeking relocation to Finland face stricter scrutiny, and companies should prepare for longer processing times and a higher rejection rate. Employers sponsoring Russian talent may need to emphasise work-based residence permits rather than humanitarian routes, ensuring documentation is complete and contingency plans are in place.
