Background: Escapes, defections, and extraditions
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By Veli-Pekka Leppänen
By January 1945 Finland had sent more than 100,000 people back to the Soviet Union. About 56,000 Ingrian civilians, nearly 44,000 Russian prisoners of war, and more than 2,500 German POWs were the main groups involved in the deportations. Their ultimate destinations were not discussed very much in Finland. The actions were required by the interim peace treaty under interpretation of the Soviet-dominated Allied Monitoring Commission.
In addition, between 1945 and1955 about 800 escaped prisoners of war, and others whose return was demanded by the Soviet Union, were brought to the Russian border.
In the greyest of zones were the 153 defectors who crossed the border into Finland between 1945 and 1981. Of this group, 114 were sent back, while 36 of the defectors were granted a residence permit, political asylum, or permission to go to another country. Three of the defectors died while in Finland.
Helsingin Sanomat / First published in print 15.9.2005
More on this subject:
 Book details history of extradition of Soviet defectors and refugees
Helsingin Sanomat
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