Norway present at Putin’s ceremony: – Embarrassing

The short version

• The Norwegian ambassador in Moscow will attend the ceremony marking the re-election of President Vladimir Putin
• Several political parties react; they believe that Norway’s participation legitimizes an election that was not real
• Despite controversies, the government believes it is in Norway’s interest to maintain diplomatic channels with Russia
• The EU and several European countries have clarified that they will not participate in the ceremony

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– Embarrassing of Norway, says Venstre leader Guri Melby.

– Unwise decision, says Christian Tybring-Gjedde (Frp).

– Russia’s propaganda apparatus will use this for all it’s worth, says KrF deputy leader Dag Inge Ulstein.

On Tuesday, Vladimir Putin will be formally installed as Russia’s president for six new years, in a ceremony in the Kremlin.

The Norwegian ambassador Robert Kvile will be present at the inauguration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirms to VG on Tuesday morning.

According to the Russian Electoral Commission Putin won more than 87 percent of the vote when the Russian people went to the polls on Sunday 17 March.

– Unlucky signal

Ine Eriksen Søreide (H), leader of the Storting’s foreign affairs and defense committee, also reacts:

– I understand very well that there are many considerations to be weighed, and that this is not an easy decision. I still believe that it sends an unfortunate signal that Norway is standing at ambassadorial level for Putin’s reinstatement. The presidential election was neither free nor fair, Putin continues his brutal war against Ukraine and the election came just in the wake of the murder of Navalny, she says in an email to VG.

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 Eivind Vad Petersson (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.

– Norway’s participation cleans up the Russian election, which we have previously criticized, says Christian Tybring-Gjedde.

He believes that Norway sends wrong signals to allies, but also to the Russian population.

– It is downright embarrassing because it helps to legitimize the presidential election – an election that was not real. Norway attends a ceremony for a president who has gone to war against another European country, Ukraine, which has Norway’s full support both militarily and politically, says Guri Melby.

– What Norway wants to achieve with this is impossible to understand, she adds.

– The fact that most of our friends and allies are absent from the ceremony makes Norway’s decision even more unmusical, says Tybring-Gjedde.

– When leading opposition politicians are killed, elections are held in occupied Ukrainian areas and Putin “reaches” 87 percent of the vote, it is very unwise for Norway to give legitimacy to the inauguration, says KrF deputy leader Dag Inge Ulstein.

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 KremlinThe Kremlin is the power base of the Russian leadership, inside a historic fortress in the center of Moscow. Inside is the residence of the Russian president. .

Canada and the UK will not be represented, and the European Union has confirmed that its Moscow ambassador will not attend the ceremony either.

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

– The so-called election

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.