PRESS RELEASE • Russian Reservist Eventually Granted Asylum in Finland ...
... — Decision Based on Military-legal and Political Risks
13th February 2026
A Russian citizen, R. (name withheld), has been granted international protection in Finland following more than three years of examination of his case — from September 2022 until November 2025.
This decision is particularly significant because, currently, it is very difficult for Russian citizens who left their country after the 2022 mobilisation announcement and refuse to participate in a war which also constitutes a violation of international law, to obtain protection in Finland. Fear of conscription alone, although the illegal practices reported also by the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Russian federation, is often considered insufficient without additional individual risk factors.
At the time he left Russia, R. was not a deserter neither was performing military service. He held the status of a military reservist. In autumn 2022, following the announcement of partial mobilisation in Russia, he left the country out of fear of being called up and potentially sent to war.
It is important noting that in such cases, mere membership in the category of military reservists is generally insufficient in obtaining asylum. Practice in Finland requires proof of specific individual risks – military-legally related and other. In 2025, an expert opinion was prepared in R.’s case by the German human rights organisation «Connection e.V.», which specialises in supporting conscientious objectors and individuals seeking to refuse participation in war. The opinion provided a detailed analysis of the military-legal risks faced by men of his category in the context of the ongoing mobilisation policies, the digitalisation of military records and summons, the documented practices of forced mobilization and of persecution. The expert opinion was signed by Artem Klyga, an expert who works at «Connection e.V.» analysing the persecution of conscientious objectors and mobilisation practices in Eastern Europe.
In this case, military-legal risks alone were not the decisive factor because R. has also been politically active in Russia. His public stance and involvement in civic activity increased the risk of political persecution should he have returned. These circumstances — the risk of forced involvement in military action and the risk of political repression —, considered together, have been recognised by the Finnish authorities as substantial.
«Connection e.V.» is currently working on another case with similar circumstances in Finland and calls on the Finnish authorities to take in serious consideration the actual violations of human rights which are ongoing in the Russian Federation and which do affect also those who object and refuse to participate in a war which constitutes also a breach of international law. We also recall the Guidelines of United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on International Protection which clearly state that such individuals, at risk of persecution in their country of origin for refusing military service, do qualify for international protection.
«Connection e.V.» will continue to advocate for a fair assessment of the risks faced by individuals of conscription age and military reservists who exercise the human right to conscientious objection to military service and oppose participation in the war and for their full protection.
CONTACT PERSON:
Artem Klyga, Eastern Europe program coordinator, «Connection e.V.»
artem.klyga@connection-ev.org
Keywords: ⇒ Artem Klyga ⇒ Asylum ⇒ Conscientious Objection ⇒ Europe ⇒ Finland ⇒ United Nations Human Rights Council