Finland to Deport Anti-War Russian Who Donated to Navalny’s Banned Political Group
Finnish authorities plan to deport an anti-war Russian man on May 28 after his asylum appeals were rejected, the exiled broadcaster TV Rain reported Wednesday, citing an exiled politician from St. Petersburg familiar with his case.
Roman Golikov entered Finland on a tourist visa in September 2022, a week before President Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilization of reservists to fight in the war against Ukraine.
In Russia, Golikov faces potential conscription into the army, having already been issued a military summons, which TV Rain said it had seen. Since mobilization remains legally active, he would be required to report to a military enlistment office upon his return.
Golikov also previously donated to late Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation in 2021 and 2022, during the period when Russian authorities designated the group as an “extremist” organization. In Finland, he participated in pro-Ukraine rallies.
Finnish immigration authorities initially denied Golikov’s asylum application in April 2025. A Helsinki court subsequently rejected his appeal this February, ruling that his political actions “cannot be considered to arouse special interest from the [Russian] authorities.”
The court argued it could not be stated with sufficient certainty that Golikov would face serious human rights violations or targeted state scrutiny if he returned to Russia.
Dozens of people have been jailed in Russia for donating to Navalny’s FBK, according to the exiled news outlet Mediazona. Providing money to an “extremist” organization carries a maximum sentence of eight years in prison.
Golikov’s lawyer has filed a final appeal with the Finnish Supreme Court alongside an injunction request to suspend the expulsion, Mediazona reported.
Despite the pending high court appeal, Finnish police detained Golikov and placed him in a cell to await an upcoming flight out of the country.
