Protecting migrants' right to family life in the Nordic countries
Authors:   Academy of Management of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, Bezrukov Andrey V. ,   Siberian Federal University,   South Ural State University, Iksanov Ilya S. ,   Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, Isaeva Anastasia A. ,   Tomsk State University, Fedorova Alina P. ,   Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation
Published: February 2023

In this study, the authors refer to the migration policy of the Nordic countries and the consolidation in them at the legislative level of the right of foreign citizens to protect and respect family life. The issue under consideration is extremely relevant in this period of time, since there are problems generated by the Scandinavian juvenile justice that are directly related to the systematic violation of the rights of foreign citizens. The novelty of the article lies in the fact that it analyzes judicial practice, as well as decisions of international bodies, in particular the European Court of Human Rights, that reflect the specifics of juvenile justice in the states under consideration. The aim of the study is to carry out a comparative analysis of the legislation of Northern Europe and the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights in specific cases in the field of protection of the rights of foreign citizens. The study is based on the theoretical material of the works of Russian authors (M.A. Mogunova, E.A. Orlova, N.S. Plevako, O.V. Chernysheva, et al.), the national legislation and international legal acts and decisions. The article analyzes the law enforcement practice of the European Court of Human Rights, which reflects the main principles that make up the objective opinion of this body, taking into account the main provisions of international legal documents, including the norms of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement for Legalization of Foreign Public Documents. The methodological basis of the research was the dialectical, comparative legal and formal legal methods. In particular, the use of the dialectical method contributed to the study of legislation that enshrines the rights of foreign citizens to protect and respect family life in the states of Northern Europe. The use of comparative legal and formal legal methods helped to identify trends in the development of legislation on citizenship and the legal status of foreign citizens in the states of Northern Europe. As a result, the authors note a tendency for the authorities of some Scandinavian states to revise their attitude towards children from foreign and mixed families, which is happening under, among other reasons, the “pressure” of international bodies specializing in the protection of individual rights and freedoms. Special instructions are being introduced that explain to guardianship officials the need to cooperate with the immigration authorities if the officials are considering children's documents, and the need to react to requests from foreign authorities (in particular, embassies). Employees of the Scandinavian guardianship services should facilitate the establishment of contact between the family and the embassy of the state with which they have expressed a desire to contact for one reason or another.