Finland’s supreme court ruled on Friday against extraditing a Russian man, Yan Petrovsky, suspected of terrorism in Ukraine. The decision was based on the perceived risk of inhuman prison conditions in Ukraine, as highlighted by the European Court of Human Rights.
Petrovsky was taken into custody by Finnish authorities in August after an arrest warrant was issued by a Ukrainian court. He is accused of participating in a terrorist organization in Ukraine, with ties to the far-right subunit Rusich, affiliated with Russia’s Wagner Group mercenaries.
Known as Voislav Torden in Finland, Petrovsky was identified by Rusich as a founding member and leader, subject to EU and U.S. sanctions since the previous year.
Despite the supreme court’s decision, Petrovsky was immediately taken into custody by the Finnish Border Guard, pending further investigation into his presence in the country.
The European Court of Human Rights’ findings, highlighting overcrowded and materially deprived conditions in Ukrainian prisons, played a crucial role in Finland’s decision to deny extradition.
The Ukrainian government has not yet commented on the ruling. Petrovsky, a former resident of Norway and a long-time far-right activist, played a role in founding Rusich as a neo-Nazi unit during the early stages of the conflict in the Donbas in 2014. Wagner Group, known for its involvement in conflicts such as Ukraine and various African nations, has faced sanctions from Western countries for alleged atrocities.
