Russian migration police deport Finnish journalist for working unaccredited on a ‘cultural visa’

Russia’s Federal Migration Service in Petrozavodsk revoked Finnish journalist Esu Tuominen’s Russian visa, after detaining him mid-interview with the city’s former mayor, Galina Shirshina.

Tuominen had met with Shirshina at “The Kukhnya” cafe in Petrozavodsk to conduct the interview, during which police arrived. Apparently, two women sitting next to Shirshina and the journalist had called the police. “[The women] later explained they were suspicious of a man sitting with me and speaking with an accent,” said the ex-mayor.

The police drove Tuominen to the local branch of the Federal Migration Service where it was discovered the journalist had indicated he was traveling in Russia for “cultural reasons” rather than “professional activities.” Federal Migration Service officers then revoked Tuominen’s visa. The journalist was also given an official warning, because he had been working without accreditation.

Tuominen says he was unaware he had to obtain accreditation. “I thought accreditation was for journalists living in Russia permanently. I came for a couple days on a business trip,” he said. After returning to Finland, Tuominen intends to apply for a new visa and receive the proper accreditation.

Tuominen said he did not have any claims to make against the Internal Affairs Ministry or the Federal Migration Service. “I don’t want to make myself a hero of free speech or a victim of Stalinist repression or anything like that,” he said. 

The office for the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media said they were sorry about what happened to Esa Tuominen and will continue to monitor the issue as it progresses.

Galina Shirshina was elected Petrozavodsk’s mayor in 2013. She ran as an independent candidate, and had the endorsement of the liberal opposition political party Yabloko.

As mayor of Petrozavodsk, Shirshina reportedly came into conflict with the administration of the governor of Karelia.

In late December 2015, Petrozavodsk’s city council voted to dismiss Shirshina as mayor on the basis of failing to perform her duties for a period of three months.

Shirshina tried to appeal the dismissal through the Petrozavodsk City Court, but the court upheld her dismissal.