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Finland to deport elderly disabled Russian at risk to her life

© RIA Novosti Finland to deport elderly disabled Russian at risk to her life
 Finland to deport elderly disabled Russian at risk to her life - Sputnik International
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Finnish President Tarja Halonen has refused to prevent the deportation of an 82-year-old, disabled Russian woman, despite the fact that the journey poses a serious health risk, a Finnish human rights activist said.

Finnish President Tarja Halonen has refused to prevent the deportation of an 82-year-old, disabled Russian woman, despite the fact that the journey poses a serious health risk, a Finnish human rights activist said.

"[Irina] Antonova's son-in-law, Ari Laitanen, on May 28 sent a letter to the Finnish President asking [her] for help in preventing Antonova's deportation," Johan Backman said. "He has received a reply saying that the president does not have the power to prevent deportation."

Antonova's daughter, Natalia Kaarik, who has Finish nationality, brought her mother from the northern Russian city of Vyborg after she became severely disabled as a result of a stroke. She was staying in Finland on a guest visa, which has expired.

The Finnish authorities refused to issue Antonova with a residence permit and ordered her deportation, despite the fact that she is in a wheelchair and has no relatives in Russia.

Antonova was due to be deported to Russia on Thursday, but the order was suspended on Wednesday. Russian news portal GZT.ru quoted Finnish police as saying the suspension was due to a lack of vehicles.

The portal also quoted Kaarik as saying that dozens of human rights activists has planed to gather outside her house to prevent Antonova being taken away.

A Russian Foreign Ministry official said on Thursday that Finish authorities had decided to postpone the deportation till June 16. The family tried four times, without success, to appeal the decision to deport Antonova in court.

Laitanen resigned from the Finnish military in protest to his country's decision.

On May 27, during an official visit to Finland, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said the Finnish authorities should make an exception for the seriously ill woman.

On May 31, thousands of people took to the streets in Helsinki in protest the decision of the Finnish Immigration Police.

ST. PETERSBURG, June 3 (RIA Novosti)

 

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