A Russian family faces deportation from Finland after repeatedly being denied asylum – despite the threat of arrest, imprisonment and potential torture for their pro-Ukrainian activism. View image in fullscreen Nikita Belov and his mother, Olga, are strong supporters of Ukraine and critics of Putin’s war. During the same period, 1,109 of 1,342 Russians were refused entry to Finland in connection with a negative asylum application. It has since indefinitely closed its entire border, accusing Moscow of directing asylum seekers to Finland in a “hybrid operation”. Photograph: Nikita BelovThe mother and son first applied for asylum in Finland in 2022 but it was refused, after which they unsuccessfully appealed.