Norway sends the ambassador to Putin’s ceremony

On Tuesday, Vladimir Putin will be formally inaugurated for six new years as Russia’s president, in a ceremony in the Kremlin. The Norwegian ambassador Robert Kvile will be present, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Tuesday 7 May at 09:06

According to Russia’s election commission, Putin won more than 87 percent of the vote when the Russian people went to the polls on Sunday, March 17.

Today, Tuesday, Putin begins his fifth term as Russia’s head of state, while his armed forces continue their invasion of Ukraine – a war that a large majority of the world’s countries have condemned at the United Nations.

That is why Norway is participating

– Norway’s relationship with Russia is strongly influenced by Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine, says State Secretary Eivin Vad Peterson (Ap) in a statement to VG.

– Russia is on the wrong side of history. Nevertheless, it is in Norway’s interest to maintain diplomatic channels with our neighboring country, not least in challenging times, in order to be able to deal with important issues of safety at sea, fisheries cooperation and border management. That is why Norway is represented by our ambassador at the presidential inauguration, he adds.

Boycotts

It is unclear how many countries’ ambassadors will show up at the Kremlin to mark the re-election.

Germany, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have clarified that they will not be present during Putin’s ceremony in the Kremlin.

France, on the other hand, has confirmed that their Moscow ambassador will attend the inauguration.

The day after the election in Russia, 18 March, the Foreign Ministry issued a statement from Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide (Ap) about “the so-called election in Russia”, and described it as neither free nor fair.

– It has not been an election as we know it from democracies, said Eide.

The Norwegian authorities reacted in particular to the fact that the election was also held in the areas of Ukraine which Russia has occupied.

– It is a serious violation of international law, said the foreign minister in the statement.

– The election has taken place while leading regime critics and oppositionists are imprisoned, hidden in penal colonies, or forced into exile. The main opposition leader, Alexei Navalny, died in Putin’s penal colony, he added.

Germany follows the Baltic states and has said they will not be present at Putin’s ceremony in the Kremlin.

France, on the other hand, has confirmed that their Moscow ambassador will be present during the inauguration.