The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirms this to VG.
Putin begins his fifth term as Russia’s president on Tuesday. He will lead the country for six more years, while the invasion of Ukraine continues.
This invasion has been condemned by a majority of the countries in the UN, and several countries have, according to VG, announced that they will not be present during Putin’s ceremony. Among them are Germany, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
– Maintain diplomatic channels
Norway has therefore chosen to participate. The Foreign Ministry says the reason is that they believe it is in Norway’s interest to maintain diplomatic channels with Russia.
– 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.
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Reacts strongly
KrF’s deputy chairperson and foreign policy spokesperson, Dag-Inge Ulstein, reacts strongly to the fact that Norway’s ambassador will be present during the ceremony
Ulstein believes that Norway’s participation sends completely the wrong signals.
– When the government sends the Norwegian ambassador to Putin’s inauguration ceremony, this will unfortunately help to legitimize an election that is not at all legitimate, free or fair. What we do know, in any case, is that Russia’s propaganda apparatus will use this for all it’s worth, says Ulstein in a statement.
