Finland will not go through with plans to deport an elderly, disabled Russian woman after she was admitted to hospital in Helsinki, a Finnish human rights activist said on Wednesday.
Irina Antonova, 82 was hospitalized on Tuesday morning a day before her scheduled deportation to Russia.
"Police told Finnish journalists that this week they are unlikely to deport Antonova," Johan Backman said, adding that the pensioner's health gave cause for concern.
However, the Antonova family said they have not been officially informed that the deportation has been postponed.
The elderly woman, who suffered a stroke and cannot take care of herself, was brought to Finland from Vyborg, Russia by her daughter, Finnish citizen Natalia Kaarik, in February 2008.
She arrived in Finland on a guest visa, which has since expired.
Although the woman has no relatives in Russia, Finland's migration service ruled that she could not be permitted to stay in the country and must be deported for violating visa regulations.
Her daughter, who has lived in Finland for over 20 years, repeatedly appealed the decision by the migration service and asked for a residence permit for her mother, but to no avail.
Doctors believe the deportation of the woman to Russia poses a serious risk to her health.
Backman, who is the family's official representative, has requested the European Court of Human Rights to suspend the deportation order.
"Now the European court cannot take a decision on suspending the deportation because Antonova is in hospital. The decision will be taken only when the deportation order is in force," he said.
A number of human rights activists and politicians, including Finnish President Tarja Halonen, have criticized migration officials over the decision.
On May 31, thousands of people took to the streets in Helsinki to protest the decision.
ST. PETERSBURG, June 16 (RIA Novosti)
