Date when decision was rendered: 9.8.1990

Judicial body: Supreme Court = Högsta domstolen = Korkein oikeus

Reference: Report No. 2108; H90/220, of the Supreme Court to the Finnish Ministry of Justice

Reference to source

Registry of the Supreme Court

Högsta domstolens registratorskontor

Korkeimman oikeuden kirjaamo

Date of publication:

Subject

right to leave one's country, hijacking, extradition, freedom of opinion, inhuman treatment or punishment,
rätt att lämna sitt land, flygkapning, utlämning, åsiktsfrihet, omänsklig behandling eller bestraffning,
oikeus lähteä maasta, lentokonekaappaus, luovuttaminen, mielipiteenvapaus, epäinhimillinen kohtelu tai rangaistus,

Relevant legal provisions

Article 3 of the 1975 Treaty between Finland and the Soviet Union on the prevention of seizure of civilian aircraft

= artikel 3 i avtalet mellan Finland och Sovjetunionen om förhindrande av flygplanskapning,

= artikla 3 Suomen ja Neuvostoliiton sopimuksessa lentokonekaappauksen estämiseksi.

ECHR-1, ECHR-3, ECHR-5, ECHR-6, ECHR-14, ECHRP-4-2-2

Abstract

Mr.Varfolomejev had forced a plane from Tallinn destined for Lvov to land in Helsinki where he surrendered to the authorities.He later applied for political asylum in Finland.The Soviet authorities demanded his extradition to the Soviet Union on the basis of a treaty between Finland and the Soviet Union on the prevention of seizure of civilian aircraft.His application for asylum was rejected.The Ministry of Justice asked for the Supreme Court's opinion concerning the lawfulness of a possible extradition.Mr.Varfolomejev opposed an extradition on the grounds that he was persecuted in the Soviet Union.In December 1986, Varfolomejev was confined to a mental hospital for a period of 17 days after having expressed his opinion against the war in Afghanistan and having refused to do his military service.After this he was classified as a disabled person with no right to work, to study or to receive a passport.According to Mr.Varfolomejev, an extradition to the Soviet Union would mean confinement to a mental hospital for perhaps an indefinite time.

Having examined relevant Finnish legislation and Finland's obligations under international human rights conventions, including the ECHR, the Supreme Court found that Mr.Varfolomejev could not be extradited on the grounds of violation of Article 81 of the Estonian Penal Code (prohibition to leave the country without permission).However, the Supreme Court found no legal obstacles to his extradition to the Soviet Union on the grounds of seizure of a civilian aircraft.

See also Application No.17811/91 by Mihail Varfolomejev against Finland, decision of the European Commission of Human Rights on 2 September 1991.

23.3.1998 / 18.4.2019 / RHANSKI

Date when decision was rendered: 10.7.1990

Judicial body: Supreme Court = Högsta domstolen = Korkein oikeus

Reference: Report No. 1980; H90/219, of the Supreme Court to the Finnish Ministry of Justice

Reference to source

Registry of the Supreme Court

Högsta domstolens registratorskontor

Korkeimman oikeuden kirjaamo

Date of publication:

Subject

right to leave one's country, hijacking, extradition, freedom of opinion, conscientious objection,
rätt att lämna sitt land, flygkapning, utlämning, åsiktsfrihet, civiltjänstgöring,
oikeus lähteä maasta, lentokonekaappaus, luovuttaminen, mielipiteenvapaus, siviilipalvelu,

Relevant legal provisions

Article 3 of the 1975 Treaty between Finland and the Soviet Union on the prevention of seizure of civilian aircraft, Chapter 34, section 14 a of the Penal Code

= artikel 3 i avtalet mellan Finland och Sovjetunionen om förhindrande av flygplanskapning, strafflagen 34 kapitel 14 a §

= artikla 3 Suomen ja Neuvostoliiton sopimuksessa lentokonekaappauksen estämiseksi, rikoslaki 34 luku 14 a §.

ECHR-5, ECHR-13, ECHR-14, ECHRP-4-2-2

Abstract

Mr.Oleg Kozlov had forced a plane from Riga to Murmansk to land in Helsinki where he had surrendered to the authorities.He later applied for asylum in Finland.Referring to Article 3 of the 1975 Treaty between Finland and the Soviet Union on the prevention of seizure of civilian aircraft, the Soviet Union demanded his extradition.Kozlov was not granted political asylum.The Ministry of Justice asked for the Supreme Court's opinion on the lawfulness of a possible extradition of Mr.Kozlov to the Soviet Union.Mr.Kozlov opposed an extradition.According to his statement, he was persecuted in the Soviet Union for his opinions, and had been declared mentally ill solely on the ground that he was a conscientious objector.Because of this, he had no right to work, to study or to receive a passport.Having examined the Finnish legislation and Finland's obligations under international law, including the ECHR, the Supreme Court found that Mr.Kozlov could not be extradited on the grounds of violation of Article 78 of the Latvian Penal Code (prohibition to leave the country without permission).However, the Supreme Court found no legal obstacles to his extradition to the Soviet Union on the grounds of seizure of civilian aircraft.

See also Application No. 16832/90 by Oleg Kozlov against Finland, decision of the European Commission of Human Rights on 28 May 1991.

23.3.1998 / 18.4.2019 / RHANSKI

Date when decision was rendered: 21.11.1990

Judicial body: Supreme Court = Högsta domstolen = Korkein oikeus

Reference: Report No. 3342, H90/350, of the Supreme Court to the Finnish Ministry of Justice

Reference to source

Registry of the Supreme Court

Högsta domstolens registratorskontor

Korkeimman oikeuden kirjaamo

Date of publication:

Subject

right to leave one's country, hijacking, extradition, freedom of opinion, inhuman treatment or punishment,
rätt att lämna sitt land, flygkapning, utlämning, åsiktsfrihet, omänsklig behandling eller bestraffning,
oikeus lähteä maasta, lentokonekaappaus, luovuttaminen, mielipiteenvapaus, epäinhimillinen kohtelu tai rangaistus,

Relevant legal provisions

Article 3 of the 1975 Treaty between Finland and the Soviet Union on prevention of seizure of civilian aircraft

= artikel 3 i avtalet mellan Finland och Sovjetunionen om förhindrande av flygplanskapning

= artikla 3 Suomen ja Neuvostoliiton sopimuksessa lentokonekaappauksen estämiseksi.

ECHR-3, CCPR-7

Abstract

Mr.Selivanov had forced a plane from Novgorod to Petrozavodsk to land in Helsinki where he surrendered to the authorities.He later applied for political asylum in Finland.Referring to Article 3 of the 1975 Treaty between Finland and the Soviet Union on the prevention of seizure of civilian aircraft, the Soviet Union demanded Mr.Selivanov's extradition to the Soviet Union.He was not granted asylum in Finland.The Ministry of Justice asked for the Supreme Court's opinion concerning the lawfulness of a possible extradition of Mr.Selivanov to the Soviet Union.

Mr.Selivanov opposed an extradition on the grounds that he was wrongly classified as a mentally ill person in the Soviet Union.According to his statement, he had been assaulted and beaten several times during his stay in the Lipetski mental hospital.According to Mr.Selivanov, he was confined to the mental hospital after having expressed critical opinions on Soviet society.

Having examined the Finnish legislation and Finland's obligations under international law, including the ECHR, the Supreme Court found that Mr.Selivanov could not be extradited on the basis of violation of Article 81 of the Estonian Penal Code (prohibition to leave the country without permission).However, the Supreme Court found no legal obstacles to his extradition to the Soviet Union on the grounds of seizure of a civilian aircraft.

23.3.1998 / 18.4.2019 / RHANSKI