# Finland grants asylum to Russian mother and son who helped Ukrainian refugees

https://mins.news/en/item/72692

- Meduza, 2026-09-24 16:27 UTC
- Society
- Original: https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/09/24/finland-had-planned-to-deport-a-russian-mother-and-son-who-helped-ukrainian-refugees-instead-it-s-granting-them-asylum

> Finland has granted asylum to Russian nationals Olga and Nikita Belov, despite previously planning to deport them this spring. The mother and son left Russia after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began and later helped Ukrainian refugees through FinEst Volunteers. Their lawyer said new evidence showed they could face persecution if returned to Russia.