Human Rights Situation in Certain Countries (The Joint Report of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus): Norway

🇳🇴 Norway has positioned itself as a country with a developed democratic tradition, proclaiming the protection of human rights as one of the main priorities of state policy.

While in recent years the Norwegian authorities have assessed the human rights situation in the country as relatively trouble-free, the fact that human rights violations take place in Norway is recognized by relevant national and international institutions.

On 1 January 2023, a new Child Guardianship Services Act/Barnevern (adopted on 18 June 2021) entered into force, which takes into account the observations of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in its judgements against Norway that the removal of a child is a temporary measure and the main aim is to reunite the family in the future. The Law provides for stricter requirements for the qualifications of guardianship officers and the justification of their decisions, strengthens the rights of parents to communicate with their removed children, and establishes a number of principles for the work of guardianship bodies, including consideration of ethnic, cultural, linguistic and religious affiliation.

The new law still lacks provisions regulating consular assistance in "children's" cases for foreign nationals, but notes that guardianship authorities must inform parents and children who are foreign nationals of the right to apply for consular assistance. This does not refer to the right of the diplomatic mission to provide it. "Barnevern may only refuse to allow a parent or child to have a consular officer present at meetings with the guardianship authorities if there are 'compelling reasons' which must be explained to the diplomatic mission concerned." In this case, it must be "ensured that consular assistance can be provided in another way". It is also stated that the interaction between Barnevern and foreign authorities should be based on Norwegian law on non-disclosure of personal data, i.e. information on a particular case can only be provided with the consent of the persons involved.

Despite certain positive developments reflected in the law, the exclusive right to determine the "best interests" of the child in each specific case is still almost entirely vested in the municipal guardianship authorities. At the same time, the relevant Norwegian authorities (Ministry of Children and Family Affairs, Directorate for Children, Youth and Family Affairs) and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs cannot influence their decisions on specific cases, including those involving foreign nationals. Nor does the Act provide for the use of bilateral agreements to resolve conflict situations concerning the removal of children from non-Norwegian parents[1453]. In general, the Norwegian modernisation of the Child Custody Services Act is "cosmetic".

The Norwegian Barnevern guardianship authorities continue to face serious complaints about the excessive number of child removals, discriminatory treatment of children of non-Norwegian origin (in a population of 5.4 million, more than 15,000 children dealt with by Barnevern are of foreign origin), low professional qualifications of staff, high levels of violence against foster children, inadequate monitoring of the living conditions of minors in foster families, and disregard for the child's opinion in decision-making.

On 20 March 2023, the report of the Expert Commission (Barnevernsutvalget)[1454] on the evaluation of the state of play in the guardianship system "Safe Childhood - Secure Future", commissioned by the Norwegian Government, was presented. The document includes a comprehensive analysis of the work of the Norwegian guardianship authorities ("Barnevern") and about 100 proposals for improvement.

The Commission noted a number of major problems in the work of Barnevern: weak evidence base for decisions to remove children from their biological family, lack of consideration of children's views, abuse of coercive measures involving the police at the time of removal of children, insufficient monitoring of their living conditions in foster families.

In total, since 2017 the ECtHR has examined 44 complaints (in 2023 - 20, in 2022 - 2, in 2021 - 11, in 2020. - 4, in 2019. - 3, in 2018. - 2, in 2017. - 1) related to the removal of children by Norwegian guardianship authorities (in two cases the plaintiffs were Russian citizens). In 23 of them, the court partially or fully sided with the plaintiffs.

Barnevernet was involved in most of the instances that included violations of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), which ensures respect for private and family life.

A large-scale review of Barnevernet's work (conducted in 2021-2022 by Norwegian Board of Health Supervision (Helsetilsyn) and the governors) found irregularities in 80 of the 90 inspected care facilities in Norwegian municipalities. According to the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) on 1 April 2022, among the shortcomings identified were: low staff qualification; unprofessional assessment of the situation in the families; refusal to consider the child's opinion; and failure to provide complete information to parents and children.

According to an investigation conducted by journalists of "Aftenposten" daily newspaper, children under Barnevernet Child Care who have serious mental illnesses do not receive the necessary medical care and required treatment from the state. According to the publication, between 2021 and 2022, 261 children in the Barnevernet system cumulatively moved more than 2,000 times (that is, just under 8 moves per child) from one care setting to another, changing region of residence, school, and environment. At the same time, many of the children have serious mental illness and disorders (autism, personality disorder, depressed state of mind, etc.). During an exacerbation, they receive only emergency care in psychiatric wards and are returned to institutions of care, which often simply transfer the "difficult" teenagers to another boarding school.

The NIM's report on the human rights situation in Norway recommends that the authorities treat the removal of a child from the family as a temporary measure, while the primary goal of the child welfare authorities should be to facilitate family reunification in the future. Judicial bodies that make decisions about the fate of children must assess them from a human rights perspective. Among other things, it notes the need to improve the competence of employees of the guardianship authorities[1455].

According to information posted on the NRK Nordland Public Broadcasting website on 8 September 2022, 74.4 per cent of children's cases were handled late in 2021 due to staffing problems and high turnover at the Barnevernet Child Care Services in Nordland.

Human rights defenders are also concerned about the continuing practice of placing children of non-Norwegian origin in foster families without regard to language, culture and religious affiliation.

In a report of 27 January 2023, the state broadcaster NRC, citing research by the University of Tromsø, stated that the majority of Roma children are placed in non-Roma foster families. Their places of residence are hidden from their biological parents. The children are cut off from the Roma community, culture and language.

According to a journalistic investigation by the publication "Aftenposten", in the last 2.5 years there have been 1,650 "serious incidents" in Norwegian care institutions (these include: death, attempted suicide, abduction, fire, suspected sexual abuse, etc.). In particular, 102 children attempted suicide and 10 children died. The Directorate for Children, Youth and Family Affairs (Bufdir, tasked with monitoring the fulfilment of care institutions' obligations) has conducted an internal investigation into only one death (13-year-old Julianna Castro was found dead in May 2022 after escaping from the institution "Barnevern" in Bergen)[1456].

On average, about 200 children and young people in Norway are on a "waiting list" for foster care placements. The Directorate for Children, Youth and Family Affairs (Bufetat; responsible for the operation of the public and private Barnevern institutions) is not coping well with the selection of guardians for children removed from biological families[1457].

According to the October 2023 report of the Health Surveillance (Helsetilsyn), adolescents with mental disorders in the care of Barnevern do not receive the necessary help and care (the report is based on an investigation into 8 deaths of adolescents in care between 2017 and 2022). It is mentioned, in particular, that there is a lack of coordination between the guardianship authorities and medical institutions, that there is no constant follow-up of mentally ill adolescents in residential institutions, and that the staff of "Barnevern" are self-discharged from providing care while children are in psychiatric hospitals[1458].

An investigation conducted by journalists of the Norwegian publication "Verdens Gang", indicating a long-standing practice of illegal adoption in Norway of children from South Korea, Ecuador, Madagascar and the Philippines, caused a wide public outcry. Following the publications and public pressure, the authorities announced the establishment of an independent commission to verify possible violations (will submit a report in 2025) and a temporary moratorium on the adoption of children from these countries.

According to the investigation, children from the Philippines had false birth certificates, in South Korea there was "systematic and obvious document fraud", in Madagascar police took bribes[1459].

According to "Verdens Gang", since the 1960s, Norwegian citizens have adopted some 6,500 South Korean children, 70 per cent of whom were registered as "orphans of unknown origin". Many of them had biological parents back home who did not abandon them. The Norwegian authorities had been aware of systematic "errors" in South Korean adoption papers since 1996, but no action had been taken.

Reference is made to the case of Jong Ken Suk, who was brought to Norway from South Korea in 1971. At the age of 18, she discovered that her mother had died in childbirth and she had been taken from the maternity hospital, even though her father was alive and had been trying to find her for many years[1460].

According to a Deloitte assessment commissioned by the Directorate of Education in November 2019, Norwegian schools sometimes utilize forceful measures against students without justification, not just in circumstances where their life or health is in danger. For example, "naughty" kids are kicked out of class, cell phones are taken away, etc.

Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, as well as statements aimed at inciting hatred or hostility, including those posted on the Internet, are not uncommon.

According to the Norwegian Commission for Freedom of Expression Report (submitted August 2022), the number of police reports of hate speech based on race, nationality, ethnicity, religion, gender/sexual orientation has increased significantly in recent years (from 189 to 324 in 2016-2020).

According to a 2021 study by the Norwegian Media Authority (Mediatilsynet), 25 per cent of Norwegians aged 16-20 have experienced an "online hate" manifestation during the year on the Internet.

According to a Norwegian government press release dated 4 November 2023, DMT head R. Behar described the current level of Jew-hatred as the highest in Norway since World War II[1462].

In May 2023, the Norwegian government published a study showing that three out of four Sami (compactly living within the three northern provinces of Finnmark, Troms, Nordland) are discriminated against on the basis of ethnicity, gender and place of residence.

This picture is complemented by a study by Amnesty International presented in September 2023. An analysis of 200,000 comments on social media in the period 2019-2023 shows that the Sámi are subjected to harassment - every fourth statement about them is negative and even hate speech[1463].

According to human rights activists, the most negative attitude of Norwegians is towards the Roma historically living in the country. Almost 50% of Norwegians would not like to have Roma neighbours, and about 30% would like to see them in their immediate neighbourhood[1464].

On 25 June 2022, on the eve of the "gay parade", a 42-year-old Norwegian of Iranian descent, Z. Matapour, went on a shooting rampage in a nightclub in the centre of Oslo, where LGBT community members gather, killing two people and injuring 21 others. The investigation is ongoing. Z.Matapur has been charged with a serious terrorist offence.

In Norway, known for its tolerance, neo-Nazism/Nazism as a political and social movement is not legally prohibited. Criticism of Oslo on this basis has been repeatedly voiced by the UN's dedicated Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), established under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

However, virtually all possible manifestations of Nazism and neo-Nazism are reflected in the country's Criminal Code (§§ 77, 185, 186) and are prosecuted as "expression of hatred" or "discrimination" on the grounds of race, nationality, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation and others. This also applies to cases of displaying Nazi symbols (not prohibited per se, but their use in the context of "expression of hatred" against specific groups is punishable by a fine or up to 3 years' imprisonment).

According to law enforcement authorities,[1465] a number of radical right groups confessing ideas of national and racial exclusivity operate in Norway. However, the Norwegian far-right is rather fragmented, with no more than 50 active members.

The most organized nationalist group is considered to be the Nordic Resistance Movement (NRM), registered in Norway in 2011 (local wing leader is Tommy Olsen)[1466], but coordinated from Sweden (where it is more active)[1467]. Its ideology is based on the belief in a "worldwide Jewish conspiracy," and its supporters consider themselves "National Socialists." Its activists participate in neo-Nazi demonstrations (mainly in Sweden and Finland), hang posters, and distribute leaflets. Simultaneously, they act publicly and do not conceal their identities, avoiding obviously violent tactics of conflict (though they do not rule them out "if necessary"). The NRM plans "educational" activities, youth summer camps, "family" events, and celebrations, much like political parties do.

Other active right-wing radical groups are largely marginalized and represented by "branches" of European organizations such as PEGIDA, Soldiers of Odin, Stop the Islamization of Norway, Norwegian Defense League, Fatherland Party, Norwegian People's Party, Stop Migration, White Electoral Alliance, Patriots of Norway, Democrats, Alliance. The New Right and the Alternative Right are two global ideological movements that are becoming more and more well-liked, particularly among young people.

At the same time, we can state that, for historical reasons,[1468] the potential for the popularity of National Socialism ideology in Norway is low. The attitude toward neo-Nazism in Norwegian society is generally negative. The country's authorities do not allow any form of glorification of the Nazi movement and former members of the SS, including the Waffen SS.

On 10 August 2019, Philip Manshaus, a right-wing radical, killed his 17-year-old stepsister of Chinese descent before breaking into the Al-Noor mosque in the Oslo suburb and firing several shots there to "spread fear among Muslims" (no deaths). The investigation found that Philip Manshaus was "inspired" by the March 2019 terrorist attack in Christchurch, New Zealand. During the trial, the defendant gave the court a Nazi salute before taking a seat next to his defense attorneys. He was unanimously found guilty by Asker and Bærum District Court panel, sentencing him to 21 years in prison.

In a 2023 report[1469], the Norwegian Police Security Service (PST, counterintelligence, also responsible for counterterrorism) notes that some members of Norwegian far-right groups are involved in combat operations in Ukraine. As a result, they may not only gain military experience, but also expand their extremist network and begin to use more violent methods of operation.

In the 2022 report, the PST also indicated the likelihood of an increase in the number of right-wing extremists, attributed to the growing popularity of the ideas they promote, the availability of propaganda on the Internet, socio-economic hardship and increased isolation amid the pandemic.

The Security Police Service has recorded an increase in the number of people in Norway expressing support for right-wing extremist attacks.

Claims are made against intelligence agencies in relation to the use and storage of private information. In 2022-2023, their powers to "spy on citizens" were significantly expanded.

Russophobia and spy-mania are actively promoted in Norwegian society. In line with such approaches, on 12 January 2024, the Norwegian Ministry of Justice and Emergency Situations submitted to Parliament amendments to the Criminal Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Police Act that significantly tighten the relevant legislation and give the Norwegian intelligence services an additional tool to suppress any activity that could be interpreted as benefiting Russia.

The amendments are aimed at introducing into national law provisions on liability for activities in collusion with foreigners aimed at influencing public opinion, "where such activities are likely to harm a significant public interest". Violation of these provisions is punishable by up to 10 years' imprisonment, depending on the nature of the offence, its scale, the use of the offender's official position or his or her significant material gain.

In addition, the proposed amendments to the Criminal Code will significantly expand the ability of intelligence services and law enforcement officers to conduct covert investigations and information gathering methods, as well as prosecute document forgery.

Justice Minister E.E. Mehl pointed to the particular relevance of the amendment package in view of the "Russian trail" in the 2016 US presidential election, the "war in Europe" and the intelligence activities of an "increasingly isolated Russia", which allegedly uses various methods to influence security policy or create conflicts in a number of countries, including Norway.

The legislative changes mentioned are not an exclusive initiative of the current centre-left government of J.G. Strøre. In May 2021, a similar package of amendments was proposed by a right-liberal government, but was not adopted due to criticism from the Norwegian Foreign Ministry and Norwegian judges' and lawyers' associations, citing possible consequences for freedom of expression in the country.

The authorities assure that the previous comments have now been taken into account (the wording regarding "aiding and abetting foreign intelligence", "significant public interest", etc. has been clarified). In addition, the Security Police Service will use covert investigation methods only in cases of gross violations of the Criminal Code and with the authorisation of the Norwegian courts. General control will continue to be exercised by the Parliamentary Commission for the Control of the Intelligence Services.

From September 2022, the counter-intelligence agency will collect enhanced data on all air passengers arriving from abroad and leaving the country; from January 2023, it will track and analyse data from open sources on the Internet, including social media, with the possibility of mass storage for up to 15 years[1473].

On 1 January 2021, the new Norwegian Intelligence Service Act came into force. This structure (Etterretningstjenesten) was granted the right to monitor and store cross-border electronic communications and service providers must authorise it to install and operate the necessary equipment at facilities under its control[1474].

There are cases of human rights violations by law enforcement officials in Norway.

The brutal police detention of three young Norwegian men in Kongsberg in April 2022 when a police officer hit one of them several times in the face with his fist, then pinned him to the ground and stepped on his throat with his knee while hitting his mate several times with a police baton, caused widespread outrage. Meanwhile, the second police officer took away the mobile phone from the third young man, on which he was recording the police actions, and deleted the recording. After being taken to the police station, the young men were charged with the use of force against representatives of the authorities[1475]. The police officer who deleted the recording was fined 12,000 kroner (about $1,100). A criminal case was initiated against the second law enforcement officer, during which he was acquitted in June 2023.

Oslo has been criticised for violating the rights and legitimate interests of persons detained in penitentiary institutions.

The 2021 and 2022 NIM reports identified as the most pressing problems in this area: excessive use of solitary confinement and mechanical restraints on prisoners, suicides, inadequate care for persons with physical and mental disabilities, the use of coercive measures against them, regular strip searches of pre-trial detainees, delayed trials due to understaffing and underfunding of the judiciary, as well as problems of access to health services for those serving sentences.

In addition, Norwegian human rights defenders draw attention to the fact that the conditions of detention for women are worse than for men. Due to the insufficient number of women's prisons, Norwegian convicts are forced to serve their sentences far away from their homes and relatives, and therefore have no opportunity to see their children (although they are entitled by law to see their children once a week). In comparison to men's prisons, restraint measures, including strapping to beds, are much more common in women's prisons.

There have been a number of high-profile refugee cases in Norway recently.

In May 2023, Z.Saidova and her mother were deported from Norway on the ground that when she was granted asylum in 2005, the mother had misled the migration authorities by stating that she had arrived in Norway from Chechnya (in fact they came from Kazakhstan). According to the decision of the authorities, Z.Saidova's mother was deported to Kazakhstan without the right to enter Norway and her daughter was banned from entering Norway for five years (the "relaxation" was made on the ground that she was a minor when she entered Norway). According to the defense attorney, the expulsion of Z.Saidova who had lived most of her life in Norway was a "disproportionately harsh decision" and a legal error[1478].

The 2021 and 2022 NIM reports point to the continuing limitation of the rights of single refugees aged 15-18 in Norway compared to their peers under state guardianship and single refugees under the age of 15. It is therefore recommended that the government should adopt legislative amendments to equalise the rights of refugee children under and after the age of 15.

At the same time, according to NGO Save the Children, the proposed changes will not improve their situation in practice, and in fact will only consolidate a differentiated approach to the two above-mentioned age groups of children.

According to an investigation conducted by NRK journalists in 2022, the Norwegian police "in the vast majority of cases" do not actively search for refugee children who have escaped from Barnevern care. It is claimed that the missing children may have fallen into the criminal environment or been trafficked. As of December 2022, 432 children are listed as runaways[1479].

In July 2023, a lone 15-year-old refugee girl from Eritrea disappeared from a reception centre for refugee children in Myseby, Norway, a few days after her arrival. The police did not become involved until five days after her disappearance, interviewed the staff and closed the case without searching for her[1480].

The Ombudsman for Civil Affairs, Hanne Harlem, criticises the conditions of accommodation in the Trandum temporary detention centre. The most serious complaints were the locking of refugees in rooms (for several hours during the day and at night), temporary removal of their means of communication, regular strip searches, and the unacceptable treatment of persons suffering from mental illness[1481].

In October 2023, the Borgarting Court of Appeal upheld a claim by an Eritrean asylum seeker against the Norwegian state for violation of her rights at the Trandum refugee detention centre (during her stay at Trandum between August and December 2019, she was strip searched 23 times, regularly locked in a room for long periods of time (up to 15 hours). The court ordered to pay her compensation in the amount of NOK 40,000 (about $3,700)[1482].

Human rights activists note that despite the significant efforts made by the authorities to "atone" to the indigenous peoples (Sami) and national minorities who have become "victims" of Oslo policy of assimilation, recently there have been frequent cases of violations of the rights of the Sami whose representatives regularly express their discontent, especially in connection with the implementation of industrial projects in the territories of their traditional residence.

The 2022 NIM report points to the "protracted" violation of Sami rights in the "Fosen case".

Fosen Vind's construction of a large wind farm complex on the Fosen Peninsula in Trøndelag County (206 turbines, were commissioned in 2021) has resulted in the loss of one third of the region's traditional winter pastures to Sami reindeer herders. This has caused widespread public outcry.

As a result of the prosecution, the Norwegian Supreme Court ruled in favour of the Sami in September 2022, finding that their rights had been violated in the construction of two of the six wind farms and invalidating the licenses to install the turbines. However, the wind turbines have not been removed.

In February 2023, Sami activists began to protest, which resulted in the government apologising to the Sami for the "prolonged uncertainty". However, no specific steps have been taken. The only stated measure is to investigate the situation in order to examine possible "mitigating measures" and their effect. On the part of the government, assertions are being made that the wind turbines will not be demolished in any case, but that they will possibly shorten their lifespan. The Sami have stated that they will continue their protests.

Another notable case is the Norwegian government's decision announced in August 2023 to electrify Equinor's liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant on Melkøya Island. The project involves laying power lines through three reindeer herding areas and installing wind turbines to supply them in the northern Norwegian county of Finnmark. The Sami insist that the decision cannot be legally binding as it was made without consultation with Sameting (the Sami Parliament) and demand that it be cancelled.

In 2014, the state-owned company Statnett started construction of the Ofoten-Hammerfest power line which runs through the Sami reindeer herders' lands (the Sami's petition to stop the work was rejected in the court of first instance).

In September 2022, the Water Resources and Energy Directorate under the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy stated that the construction of the final section of the transmission line (Skaidi-Hammerfest) would have a much more serious impact on reindeer husbandry in the region than was predicted when the concession was awarded in 2012.

In 2014-2015, against the objections of Sameting, the local population and environmental organisations, competent authorities approved Nussir's plan to develop copper ore deposits and store spoil banks in Repparfjord. The Sami insist that the production is a threat to reindeer herding and traditional coastal fisheries in the region.

According to a report commissioned by Sameting in September 2020, the reindeer population could be halved as a result of the project, herd routes would be blocked, and in the worst case half of the reindeer herding cooperatives would be forced to cease operations. Other expert assessments point to the negative impact of spoil banks storage in Repparfjord (one of the main fjords with a significant wild salmon population) on its ecosystem.

Appeals against the authorities' decision were filed by Sameting, West Finnmark Hunter and Fishing Association, the Norwegian Society for the Conservation of Nature and the NGO Nature and Youth, but the Council of State headed by the King rejected them on the grounds that Nussir's activities would not have "unacceptable and irreversible" consequences for the environment, would maximise the interests of reindeer herders, and would bring substantial economic benefits.

Over the past few years, Sami activists, together with environmentalists, have been protesting against the construction of infrastructure by Nussir and conducting an information campaign to "scare" investors away from the project[1483]. Copper mining at the respective deposits is scheduled to start in 2024.

In January 2022, a draft updated coastal zone management plan for the Tromsø area (northern Norway), including the opening of 18 new areas for aquaculture, was submitted for public hearing. In its feedback, Sameting noted that the construction of aquaculture farms in most of the proposed sites was contrary to the interests of traditional Sami fisheries. The final version of the plan after the public hearings has not yet been published.

Examples of the government's consideration of Sami interests include the authorities' refusal to issue a licence for the resumption of gold and copper mining at the Bidjovagge deposit which was sought by the Swedish company Arctic Gold (the Sami reindeer herders of Kautokeino opposed it).

Saami reindeer herders also report discrimination due to the monopolised agricultural industry which is almost entirely controlled by the meat processing group Nortura. In particular, it is forbidden to slaughter reindeer by traditional methods (they are forced to use Nortura's mobile slaughterhouses) for their subsequent sale.

Due to the expansion of conservation areas in Norway, traditional grazing lands are often included within their boundaries, making it difficult for the Sami to use motorised transport for reindeer herding.

The case of reindeer herder J.A.Sara who was forced to transfer part of his herd to other reindeer herders due to the decision of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food in 2013 to reduce the number of reindeer in Finnmark County caused a widespread public outcry. J.A.Sara unsuccessfully tried to appeal the decision of the authorities in the national courts and filed a complaint with the UN Human Rights Committee.

Some experts draw attention to the need to protect the rights of the Sami people living on the coast, including their fishing activities, and to take into account their special indigenous status in the allocation of fishing quotas.

Among the Sami, especially men, the percentage of persons with higher education is lower than the national average. The same goes for secondary education (not all Sami complete their studies).

There is a high level of violence in Sami society. According to surveys, up to 45 per cent of the Sami have ever experienced violence (compared to 29 per cent of the population in the rest of Norway).

The weakening of the Sami language position[1484] and its gradual erosion by Norwegian "inclusions" are noted. The number of speakers of the Sami language is small. The language problem also affects the social sphere, such as health care, social care and others. Even in areas with a compact Sami population, there is a lack of competent diagnosis of diseases due to insufficient training of medical personnel in the use of professional terminology in the Sami language.

The Sami population is projected to continue to decline by 2030.

There are complaints about the Norwegian electoral system.

The amendments to the Election Regulations for Longyearbyen (Spitsbergen) Local Council, which came into force in June 2022, and their implementation in the municipal elections which took place on the archipelago on 8-9 October 2023, have resulted in restrictions on the voting rights of foreign residents of the settlement.

Previously, these citizens were entitled to vote and be elected after three years of residing in Longyearbyen but now they can only exercise their rights after three years of continuous residence in one of the Norwegian municipalities on the Norwegian mainland. As a result, some 750 people out of the 2,500 inhabitants of the settlement were unable to vote in the October 2023 elections despite the fact that many of them had spent several decades on the archipelago[1485].

Despite the absence of purposeful discrimination against Russian compatriots, the Norwegian authorities continue to maintain an atmosphere of wariness and prejudice towards natives of Russia in line with the constant fuelling of anti-Russian sentiment.

The reports of the National Security Authority (NSM) and the Police Security Service of 13 February 2023, in which our country is referred to as one of the main threats to the national security of Norway, have contributed to fuelling total suspicion of Russia. In the spirit of spying and suspicion, the local intelligence services urge fellow citizens to be "vigilant in their contacts" with Russians and to report to the competent authorities all suspicious circumstances concerning work colleagues and neighbours.

There are cases of pressure exerted on Russian compatriots, including diaspora activists, by local counterintelligence (they inquire about relatives in Russia, contacts with the Embassy and even encourage them to renounce their Russian citizenship).

Against the backdrop of the events in Ukraine, there have been cases of Russophobia: harassment and insults, refusals of service, pressure at work, preventing Russian citizens, including those with second citizenship, from participating in international events.

The arrests in October 2022 of four Russian citizens (V.A.Rustanovich, A.V.Reznichenko, M.V.Yushkov and A.V.Yakunin) for using "drones" on the territory of Norway were particularly high-profile. They were charged with violation of para 19 of Regulation No.1076 of 15 August 2014 "On restrictive measures against actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty, independence and stability of Ukraine" (prohibiting "aircraft" owned or controlled by Russians from landing/taking off in or overflying Norway).

Thanks to the professional work of the lawyers in the case of A.V.Yakunin (who also has British citizenship and lives in Italy), the courts of first and second instance ruled that the operation of recreational drones was not covered by the sanctions legislation. The businessman was found not guilty, and the other Russians were later released from custody.

On 29 June 2023, the Norwegian Supreme Court overturned the previous acquittals and concluded that the ban did apply to quadcopters.

A.V.Yakunin's case was again referred to the court of first instance[1486]. In January 2024, a new court hearing was held, with A.V.Yakunin being considered solely as a Russian citizen. According to the decision of 14 February 2024, the court agreed with the Supreme Court's verdict of June 2023, recognising the existence of a ban on the operation of all types of drones by Russians throughout Norway, including Spitsbergen. However, A.V.Yakunin was exempted from liability because he could not have been aware of the restrictive norms of Norwegian law. The prosecutor's office intends to appeal against the acquittal verdict[1487].

In May 2023, two Russian citizens were denied applications to participate in the international Queen Sonja of Norway Singing Competition. The official reason was the decision of the directorate not to admit citizens of Russia and Belarus to the event "in solidarity with Ukraine". The restriction affected, among others, holders of dual citizenship[1488].

Russian-speaking students of local schools are subjected to bullying (information confirmed by law enforcement agencies and NGO Save the Children, among others)[1489].

As reported by NRK on 15 March 2022, 12-year-old Latvian-born Maria Falkenhaug during a telephone conversation with her mother in Russian was attacked by an unknown person (resulting in severe bruising) who, while running away, shouted "damn Russian" in Norwegian.

After the start of the SMO, a number of small business owners refused to serve people of Russian origin (hotel chain Enter Tromsø[1490], Vesterland holiday park[1491], Bigård i Bandaksli apiary, etc.) and some medical centres (Jeløy Fysioterapi) refused to make appointments for Russian patients.

As reported by "Verdens Gang" newspaper on 30 March 2022, E.A.Kasin, a Russian woman residing in Norway, was refused an appointment with a doctor at Jeløy Fysioterapi clinic in Moss. The doctor inquired about her attitude to the events in Ukraine and President Putin and stated that he "will not serve a patient who does not condemn the war in Ukraine"[1492]. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, commenting on this case, said in the media that "it is unacceptable when Russians are denied medical care in Norway because of the war in Ukraine".

More and more Russians are finding it difficult to find employment in Norway because of their nationality and are under pressure at work.

In 2022, Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim rejected all 17 job applications from Russian citizens under the pretext of new export control regulations and national security threat assessments[1493].

Restrictions on the employment of specialists from Russia, including those holding Norwegian citizenship, have been introduced at the Norwegian research institute NORCE (in February 2023, the institution stopped hiring Russian employees) and research concern SINTEF (a Russian-Norwegian citizen was refused employment due to concerns that "Russian security services may put pressure on his relatives in Russia to obtain confidential information")[1494].

As reported by NRK on 11 July 2022, a Russian woman, Y.Filippova, was denied employment as an interior designer with the Norwegian Promotion Group (one of Norway's main organisers of exhibition and concert events) because "some important clients of the company would not be comfortable working with a team of which a Russian citizen is a part"[1495].

Y.Filippova filed a complaint with the Anti-Discrimination Tribunal (Diskrimineringsnemnda). The Equality and Anti-Discrimination Ombudsman Bjørn Erik Thon called the incident a violation of Norwegian law which prohibits discrimination against citizens on the basis of their ethnic or national origin.

Cases of refusals to grant security clearance to Norwegian citizens of Russian origin who have been called up for military service continue to occur.

A man named Haakon (the real name has not been disclosed; he was born in 2002 and has Russian roots) was not granted clearance in 2021 after several months of training at a military school due to his "ties with Russia and the possibility of him being pressured, which may be detrimental to national interests"[1496]. His mother migrated from Russia more than 26 years ago, before applying to the military school he renounced Russian citizenship.

Compatriot K.Fulosen (born in 2001; has a Russian mother and Norwegian father) was dismissed from the military service in 2022 after being refused clearance due to "his family's ties with Russia".

The issue of the removal of children from Russian citizens living in Norway by Norwegian guardianship authorities remains relevant (as of November 2023, the Russian Embassy and Consulate General in Kirkenes are monitoring 24 such episodes involving the removal of 43 children).

Yet, in recent years the statistics on the removal have been decreasing. The emerging trend is explained by the liberalisation of Norwegian legislation on the protection of children's rights, greater parental awareness and an increased understanding of the need to seek immediate legal advice.

The number of children taken away peaked in 2015-2016 when the Norwegian child protection authorities forcibly took away 19 and 24 children respectively. In most cases, dysfunctional families are affected, with parents, as a rule, coming from the North Caucasus region. The most frequent reason of children being taken away from the families is the use of corporal punishment.

Norwegians have generally been diligent in implementing the recommendations of international human rights bodies in an effort to maintain their reputation as "leaders" in the field of human rights.

In 2018-2023, Norway has reported on compliance with international human rights obligations to the following UN human rights treaty bodies: UN Human Rights Committee, UN Committee against Torture, UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women. All of them have sent their recommendations to Norway.

In February 2023, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women expressed concern about the Norwegian authorities' overuse of gender-neutral language in local legislation and the lack of gender sensitivity in policy development. It was also recommended that Norway interpret the term "rape" in the penal code in line with international standards (not as "threat or use of force" but as an act "committed in the absence of consent").

Comprehensive measures are being implemented to support the languages, culture and way of life of the Sami and national minorities. On 1 January 2022, the Language Act came into force, classifying Sami as an "indigenous language" and Kven and Romani as "minority languages". After years of attempts to resolve the issue, the Norwegian Constitution (Article 108) was amended on 15 May 2023 to establish the status of the Sami as "indigenous people".

On 1 June 2023, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, whose mandate was to study the consequences of "Norwegianisation" and the oppression of the Sami, Kven and Finnish minorities and to develop possible "reconciliation" measures, submitted a report on its work. The Commission's practical proposals include maintaining and more effective implementation of the existing support programmes for national minorities, especially in the area of language and cultural preservation (including the establishment of a "Centre for Knowledge, Research, Communication and Reconciliation").

Contrary to the recommendations of the UN Human Rights Committee and the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, Oslo refuses to remove its reservations to Article 10 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, considering that the placement of juvenile offenders in special prison wings (there are two in the country, with a capacity of eight beds) is not always "in the best interests of the child".

Read in full: https://www.mid.ru/tv/?id=1957839&lang=en