According to UNHCR, the core principle of the 1951 Geneva Convention is non-refoulement, which asserts that a refugee should not be returned to a country where they face serious threats to their life or freedom. 

Last year, Russia's Supreme Court labeled the "international LGBT+ movement" as extremist and illegal. This vaguely worded decision allows the government to imprison anyone in the LGBT+ community, not just activists, simply for their identity. The government has banned all LGBT+ organizations and content, even labeling the rainbow flag as a symbol of terrorism. The punishment for being openly queer includes real prison terms, creating an environment of constant fear. Meanwhile, the Finnish Migration Service has been refusing to provide asylum to LGBT+ individuals, deciding to deport them back. This stance is a blatant violation of the Geneva Convention. 

My wife and I are a queer couple from Russia. In our home country, we had a comfortable life with good jobs and stable incomes. However we couldn’t get married, have children, or live openly. Our lives changed drastically when the full-scaled invasion of Ukraine began and repression against LGBT+ individuals intensified. We were forced to flee for our safety. In April 2022, we applied for asylum in Finland. First, we felt welcomed and safe. After almost two years of waiting, our asylum request was denied. Now, we face deportation. As LGBT+ activists, we can be imprisoned for up to 12 years in Russia.

The Finnish Migration Service decides on asylum requests based on their data about the applicants' countries of origin. However, their information about Russia is outdated and inadequate. They do not consider the anti-LGBT laws, human rights violations, and the high level of violence against LGBT+ individuals in Russia as serious risks.

Let us illustrate the response we received after two years of waiting:

We said we couldn’t get married or have children due to Russian laws. Queer parents can lose custody of their children because of these laws. The Migration Service responded: “We wish you luck in starting a family in Russia.”
We expressed fears of imprisonment or forced conversion therapy. They said: “You managed not to be caught.”
We highlighted our roles as queer activists, which was ignored.
It’s illegal to publicly acknowledge our relationship. They responded: “Sexual orientation isn’t that important.”
We disagree. Freedom of speech, marriage, and sexual orientation are fundamental human rights.

We demand that the Finnish Migration Service update their information about Russia and recognize it as a dangerous country for LGBT+ individuals. Provide asylum for LGBT+ activists and openly queer people. We also demand that the Finnish Migration Service comply with their own law regarding the 21-month period of waiting for asylum decisions. This deadline is often missed, leaving people in limbo without proper identification, making it nearly impossible to find a job or rent an apartment.