Finnish woman claims asylum in Russia citing persecution in Finland

Russian media is reporting on a Finnish woman who claims to be seeking asylum in Russia. She describes herself as a pro-Russian activist facing persecution in Finland, alleging that she has been subjected to involuntary psychiatric treatment due to her actions. This case has been covered by outlets including Komsomolskaya Pravda, a prominent publication often referred to as a favorite of President Vladimir Putin. The articles primarily quote the woman’s own accounts without verifying her claims.

The Komsomolskaya Pravda reports that the woman entered Russia through Narva, Estonia, on August 3 and currently resides in St. Petersburg. She informed Yle that her interviews have been arranged by Kosti Heiskanen, who presents himself as a Finnish journalist in Russian media and has previously claimed that Russians face persecution in Finland. According to investigative outlet Insider, Heiskanen’s real name is Konstantin Lebedev, a promoter of pro-Kremlin propaganda. Heiskanen has denied these allegations on his Facebook page, and Yle has been unable to reach him.

Before her departure, the woman contacted Yle, requesting coverage of another Finnish family supposedly intending to travel to Russia, a claim later found to be false. Shortly after, she threatened to bring a lawsuit against the journalist in the “Russian war crimes tribunal,” asserting, “Publish the news now or you’ll be among the accused.”

The story of the Finnish woman seeking asylum first emerged in Russian media in July, but it gained traction following the Komsomolskaya Pravda article. The woman has stated that she supports the Russian military’s special operations through volunteer work and has been involved in Finnish conspiracy circles prior to her trip, campaigning for her release from psychiatric care earlier this year.