Kansalaisjärjestöjen vetoomus Vasilii Marininin puolesta

Petition for the Suspension of the Deportation of Vasilii Marinin and the Reassessment of His Asylum

Members of Parliament, Ministry of the Interior

We, the undersigned civil society organizations, call for the immediate suspension of the deportation of Russian citizen Vasilii Marinin and for a comprehensive reassessment of his asylum application. We believe that returning him to Russia would expose him to a real and serious risk of persecution.

We consider the negative decision issued by the Finnish Immigration Service to be inadequate in its assessment of the risks involved. The decision underestimates Marinin’s long-standing and well-documented involvement in human rights, peace, and environmental activism in Finland, as well as his participation in organizations and grassroots movements promoting the rights of LGBTQI+ people and opposing Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.

This combination of activities—together with his membership in the LGBTQI+ community, his activism for sexual minority rights, and his public opposition to the Russian state and its war of aggression—places him at an evident risk of persecution if he is returned to the custody of the Russian authorities.

Marinin’s activism has primarily taken the form of grassroots organizing rather than seeking visibility on social media. Nevertheless, the decision places decisive weight on the fact that his social media following and the reach of his online publications have not been extensive.

Such reasoning fails to reflect the genuine risks faced by activists returned to Russia, regardless of how widely known they are in the public sphere.

Furthermore, Marinin’s relatively young age has not been adequately taken into account. It is not reasonable to compare his level of activism with that of individuals who have been active for many years or decades and have achieved significant public prominence. The scope and significance of Marinin’s activities should instead be assessed in relation to his age and the

opportunities he has had to participate in civil society.

In addition, Marinin has participated in volunteer work funded by the European Union, which, in the current political climate in Russia, may expose him to allegations of cooperation with so-called ”foreign agents.” His connections to Ukraine and his anti-war statements may likewise result in criminal proceedings under laws prohibiting the ”discrediting of the armed forces.” Furthermore, his advocacy for the rights of sexual minorities and his LGBTQI+ identity could expose him to prosecution under Russia’s legislation prohibiting so-called ”LGBT propaganda.”

The human rights situation in Russia has steadily deteriorated in recent years. Persecution of civil society, anti-war activists, LGBTQI+ people, and independent activists has intensified significantly. In these circumstances, Marinin’s background and activities must be assessed as a whole rather than on the basis of isolated factors or the visibility of his social media presence.

If returned to Russia, he faces, at a minimum, harassment and interrogation by the authorities and, at worst, arbitrary detention, criminal prosecution, or forced conscription into military service or deployment to the front line in Ukraine.

Finland is bound by its international human rights obligations, including the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning anyone to a country where they face persecution or other forms of inhuman or degrading treatment. Where such serious risks exist, any uncertainty must be resolved in favor of protecting fundamental and human rights.

We therefore urge the Finnish Immigration Service to suspend the enforcement of Marinin’s deportation and to conduct a comprehensive reassessment of his case. We also call on the Ministry of the Interior to ensure that the matter is handled as a matter of urgency and that Finland fully complies with its international human rights obligations.

Signed by:

● Aseistakieltäytyjäliitto ry, Aku Kervinen, coordinator

● Luontoliitto ry, Silvia Modig, executive director

● Amnesty Finland, Frank Johannson, executive director

● Tema ry – Marina Kähri, chairperson

● Suomen Rauhanliitto – Finlands Fredsförbund ry, Kari Välimäki, chairperson ● Suomen Rauhanpuolustajat ry, Markku Kangaspuro, chairperson

● “Queer Asylum: Finland” Association, Alexander Onnekoski, chairperson ● Kansainvälinen solidaarisuustyö, Lotta Tuominen, chairperson

● Maan ystävät ry, Kati Karjanmaa, chairperson

● Vapaa liikkuvuus, Ilo Söderström, chairperson

● A-ryhmä

● Hawila Project (DE), Samuel Faucherrea, executive director

● Natur og Ungdom (Young Friends of the Earth Norway) (NO), Sigrid Losnegård, chairperson

● Naiset Rauhan Puolesta, Lea Launokari