Antonova leaves Finland for Russia

Irina Antonova, an elderly Russian woman whose case has raised questions about Finnish immigration policy, was taken from Finland to Russia on Tuesday.
      Antonova’s daughter and Finnish son-in-law had given up the fight to keep her in Finland, even though the European Court of Human rights had placed a moratorium on her expulsion last week.
     
Irina Antonova’s case is one of two cases which has pitted immigration officials against families who want to have elderly family members from abroad stay with them in Finland. The other case is that of Egyptian citizen Eveline Fadayel, who has now gone into hiding to prevent expulsion to Egypt.
     
Antonova first came to Finland in February 2008 to stay with her daughter. The Finnish Immigration Service felt that she was not dependent on her daughter, and ordered her to leave the country. This ruling was later upheld by the Supreme Administrative Court.
     
The support group that had been set up around Antonova’s case was taken by surprise by the new turn of events.
      The head of the suppor tgroup, Pär Silén, heard the news on the radio. He also said that he understood the family’s decision.
      “It is my impression that [Antonova’s Finnish son-in-law] Ari Laitanen will call me and tell me about the situation when he feels up to it, and finds it necessary. His job now is to support his wife.
      Silén described the ordeal suffered by Antonova as “hellish”.
     
Antonova arrived in Vyborg by ambulance on Tuesday evening, where she was taken to a hospital for treatment. Later she is to be taken to a nursing home near St. Petersburg.
      She was not escorted by police, but a Russian consular official accompanied her.
     
Under last week’s ruling by the European Court of Human Rights, Antonova could have stayed in Finland until her health improved. This might have been from a few weeks to nearly a year.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  European Court of Human Rights blocks expulsion of Irina Antonova (17.6.2010)
  Egyptian grandmother refuses to leave (14.6.2010)
  Family gives up resistance - Antonova to go back to Russia (8.6.2010)