Russian environmental activist seeks asylum in Finland

Critic of Sosnovyi Bor power plant feels he is in danger in Russia

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Renowned Russian environmental activist Sergei Kharitonov is applying for political asylum in Finland. Kharitonov, who has made a reputation for himself by drawing attention to the safety problems at the Sosnovyi Bor nuclear power plant on the southern shore of the Gulf of Finland, says that he is in great danger in Russia.
      "My persecution is based on the fact that human rights are violated in Russia", Kharitonov says. "The real threat to my life stems from the fact that I have investigated issues of corruption linked with nuclear plants", he says.
      Helsingin Sanomat last met Kharitonov a year ago at an event sponsored by the environmental organisation Bellona, where he spoke about the shortcomings of safety measures implemented at the Sosnovyi Bor nuclear power plant. In January 2004 Kharitonov visited the Finnish Parliament and spoke to MPs about the matter.
     
Kharitonov submitted his application for asylum in Finland to Finnish authorities in October this year. He spoke to Helsingin Sanomat about matters that he has discussed countless times before both in Russia and in Finland. The difference is that now he is afraid.
      "I was told that an accident could happen. Attempts were made to get rid of me unofficially - to kill me".
     Kharitonov also discusses the threats he has received and bribes that he has been offered. "There have been attempts to get documents and other information that I have collected."
      Kharitonov says that he is a dangerous man from Russia’s point of view, because he has criticised the safety measures in force at the country’s nuclear power plants, and he claims that extensive corruption is involved.
     
Kharitonov, who has worked at the Sosnovyi Bor nuclear power plant, published an extensive report on the plant’s safety along with the environmental organisation Bellona. According to the report, the storage of spent fuel at the plant is haphazard.
      He worked at the plant for 27 years - most of the time as an operator. His last job there was at the storage site for spent fuel. He was fired in 2000.
     
Under planned legislation, activities of environmental organisations and other civic groups, will come under closer scrutiny in Russia. The proposed law would place restrictions on activities of non-governmental organisations, and limit their right to receive financial aid from abroad.
      Kharitonov does not believe that the tougher line has had much of an effect on his activities. He is also criticical of the activities of Russian environmental groups, saying that they focus primarily on internal problems within the organisations.
      "The environmental organisations are restricting their own activities themselves, because they have lost their contact with the grass-roots level", Kharitonov ponders. "When civic groups start to take part in politics, they become marginalised.
      Getting political asylum in Finland is very difficult, as asylum is granted to fewer than one percent of applicants. Last year 29 people were given asylum, out of a total of 3,861 who applied.
      Ten of those who got asylum last year were Russian citizens, six were from Azerbaijan, and four were from Tajikistan.
      The number of asylum applicants has grown somewhat in recent years. In 2000, 3,170 people applied for asylum in Finland, and in 2003 there were 3,221. The applicants have to wait between six months to a year and a half for their applications to be processed.
      Kharitonov does not want to speculate on his chances of getting asylum in Finland. "It is undoubtedly a difficult decision. If Finland grants me asylum, it would be evidence that human rights are violated in Russia", he ponders.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Russia wants to extend life of Sosnovyi Bor nuclear plant through 2026 (17.5.2006)

Helsingin Sanomat