The Black Russians fear being beaten up at Russian meetings. Now the Russian group Titquila wants to change Black Russia’s negative reputation.

Svartruss fears being exposed to violence from bus drivers. Russen’s Executive Board describes the situation as very devastating.

– You don’t want to be exposed to physical violence, that’s the last thing you want, says Ingeborg Stormoen Melø.

She and her friends Adele Kristensen and Cameron Myrbråten are in their last year at Åssiden upper secondary school. It is one of the country’s largest vocational schools, with over a thousand graduating students each year. Nevertheless, it is the three out of only four students who have chosen to be black Russians.

The rest of the students wear blue or red Russian clothes.

– I think that it may have something to do with people just wanting to fit in, says Kristensen.

In addition, Black Russia has long had a negative reputation, according to the girls. Now they want to deny this.

Afraid of fights

– We were skeptical about going to Oslo on the night of 1 May, so we dropped that. We went to Lier instead, says Myrbråten.

As black Russians, they are extra exposed to mass fights, the girls say. Out of fear, they did not dare to celebrate the night of May 1 in the capital.

– When you’re going to an unfamiliar place with several thousand people, you tend to pull back a little, at least that’s what we feel. We are safer in the village than in the city, says Myrbråten.

Hate on social media

Kristensen explains that people ask her directly how she dares to show up in a black Russian costume. Melø has also experienced people laughing at her.

– I have been asked if I am a criminal, because I wear black trousers, says Myrbråten.

There are negative comments on social media. Kristensen says that there has been a long discussion in her comment section on TikTok about what people think about Black Russia.

– It’s a bit strange that people care so much, she says.

The Black Russians are also referred to negatively at Jodel.

– Here there are people who write “damn geek”, “embarrassing”, “yikes” and “I’ll step on them”, says Melø.

The comments on the internet have led to Myrbråten choosing to distance himself from social media throughout the Russian era.

– I can’t stand the negative energy. I’m too old for that, she says.

But even if the girls experience negative comments, they say that they also get a lot of positive feedback.

The girls believe that those who take Russian time very seriously are trying to maintain the tradition that black Russians are not welcome to what happens during Russian time. They want to inspire next year’s Russians to wear black Russian suits and show that it is not dangerous.

– If more people choose to be Black Russians, you get rid of the stigma, says Kristensen.

Changed the color of the russe trousers

Erik Unneberg is actually black Russian, but chose red Russian trousers. He and the rest of the Russian group are afraid of being banned and beaten up during the Russian era.

– We agreed that there is no point in being a black Russian, because then we will be banned from everything. I have friends who are on the bus and if we had black Russian trousers, it is not certain that they would have joined us or chatted with us. We wouldn’t take that chance, he says.

Unneberg attends Kjelle upper secondary school at Bjørkelangen. He says that no one else in the area is a Black Russian.

There are buses from the cities that threaten those who live further out in the country with being beaten up, because they don’t know anything other than red and blue soot, he says.

– It’s awful. That’s not how it should be. It shouldn’t matter what color your clothes are, says Unneberg.

Being met with prejudice

The Russian Executive Board is aware that the Black Russian receives threats and is banned. They describe it as very devastating.

Russen knot manager Ine Margrethe Fjelde at the Russen Hovedstyre.

– We know of several people who wear red Russian uniforms, even if they are taking professional diplomas, because a few will spread attitudes and negativity with such threats. We thought it was sad that the Russians are experiencing this, they just want to celebrate with friends, says Ine Margrethe Fjelde in the Russian Executive Board.

The threats and exclusion probably stem from a prejudice that the Black Russians are stupid because they take professional diplomas and not specialist studies, she explains.

– Have you taken any measures to prevent this?

– We have no real power. We cannot do anything about it, but we are saying that it is not okay, and that we must focus on the inclusion of all types of drugs, says Fjelde.

Oslo police district, East police district and Innlandet police district tell Aftenposten that they are not familiar with the problem.

– The feedback so far is that there are generally few challenges with the Russians this year, says senior advisor Kristin Stavik Moshagen in the Innlandet police district.