The case in summary: Two Norwegian professors associated with UiT Norway’s Arctic University participated in several events in Russia in June, despite the fact that Norwegian universities have broken contact with Russian partners after Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. The vice-chancellor at UiT, Jan-Gunnar Winther, expresses that it is not desirable for people connected to the university to participate in such events and travel to Russia. The associate professors claim that they participated as private individuals and that most of the travel was paid for privately. They deny that they represented UiT during the events. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAI. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. After Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, Norwegian universities have broken contact with Russian partners. Nevertheless, two professors from UiT – Norway’s Arctic University recently participated in several events in Russia. – If employees had asked the management at UiT about participation in this type of professional event, then they would not have had the opportunity to travel to Russia. Jan-Gunnar Winther is vice-rector for research and development at the University of Tromsø (UiT) Photo: Eivind Molde / news This is what vice-rector Jan-Gunnar Winther, at the Arctic University of Norway, says. He is reacting to the fact that two people associated with UiT used their holiday to attend seminars and a festival in north-west Russia at the end of June. The participants linked to the university were professors Ivar Bjørklund and Urban Wråkberg. Ivar Bjørklund emphasizes to news that he is retired and emeritus and therefore not employed by the university, but that he registers that the organizers have presented him as a professor from the university in the programme. Bjørklund is professor emeritus in cultural studies at the Arctic University of Norway and researches the Sami and Kven people in northern Norway. Wråkberg is still professor of northern studies at UiT. It was Nordlys that first wrote about the case. – Completely apolitical The trip, which took place from June 20 to June 27, first went to Arkhangelsk. There, the professors took part in the “White June” literature festival. Later, the tour group took part in an event through the Russian association Barents Dialog under the auspices of a former Russian employee of the Barents Secretariat. At both events, Ivar Bjørklund gave a lecture, and was listed by the organizers as a representative of UIT – Norway’s Arctic University. Bjørklund says that the background for the trip was that he was going to visit friends in Russia, but is nevertheless listed by the organizers as the usher at both events, and a representative of UiT – Norway’s Arctic University. When the honorary consul in Arkhangelsk saw the visa application, he invited Bjørklund to “White June”, explains the professor. From 21 June to 25 June, the Norwegian professors were traveling in North-West Russia. Held lectures on Soviet researcher Bjørklund has been a member of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and he has written several books about the relations between ethnic groups on the Nordkalotten. The reason for the invitation was that the consul knew of his work, says Bjørklund. – The lecture was about the Soviet opposition scientist Igor Diakonoff and his contribution called “Church ethics” – a discussion of good and evil. Diakonoff’s contribution indirectly contains a very strong criticism of today’s Russian military involvement. Bjørklund saw no problem with talking about this at the festival, and that there were several other foreign participants there. – That type of event was completely apolitical and harmless. Ivar Bjørklund (75) is retired, but still connected to UiT. The picture was taken in a different context. Photo: Johan Ante Utsi The hotel room was already paid for He says that most of the trip was paid for privately. – When I had to settle for three nights at the hotel in Arkhangelsk, I was told that the organizers had paid for it. It can be considered a return performance for the lecture, says Bjørklund. According to the festival’s website, the seminar during the festival, which the Norwegian delegation attended, is sponsored by the Russian Ministry of Culture. Former Ap mayor Remi Strand, who is connected to the Pomor associations in Eastern Finnmark, also took part in the trip. – I paid for the trip myself. The others in the delegation paid for themselves, writes Strand in an email to news. Has ended all cooperation From March 2022, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the state has ended all cooperation between study and research institutions in Norway and Russia. – It is entirely possible as a private person to go to Russia, but when you are participating in an academic program and are listed as representing our institution, it is not desirable from our side, says Winther from UiT. UiT has not decided whether there will be reactions as a result of the trip. Bjørklund replies that he did not participate on behalf of UiT, but as a private individual. On the website of “White June” it says: Ivar Bjørklund is an anthropologist, ethnographer, professor of cultural studies at the Arctic University of Norway in Tromsø. Known for his research on the history of indigenous peoples, ethnic minorities and inter-ethnic relations in Norway – I said they didn’t have to write that, I’m retired. I clarified that time and time again, that I was not a representative of the university. UiT professor Urban Wråkberg was not on the official program during the festival in Arkhangelsk. He believes he was listed as part of the delegation to the Barents Dialogue in Murmansk afterwards, after the visit took place. Photo: UiT Was on holiday Professor Urban Wråkberg, who was on the same trip, says that this was a holiday. – None of this was institutionally rooted or had an institutional character. It is not correct to talk about a conference or seminar here. “White June” is a publicly open cultural festival that I was able to visit, but I did not take part in it. He paid for the trip himself, says Wråkberg. Both he and Bjørklund say that they did not bring a PC or mobile phone related to UiT on the trip. – I agree, and must follow that assessment, that all direct interaction in Russia between Russians and Norwegian academics can be angled and used in central Russian propaganda. At the same time, it must be avoided that the consequences of this are that no UiT employees can travel officially to Russia in the future. – Must regret it When he received the invitation to “White June”, Bjørklund says he checked with the embassy in Moscow and asked what they thought about the event. – Then I got a reply straight away from the ambassador himself, who said that this was completely unproblematic. They said they sent a representative to the festival. news has asked the Norwegian embassy in Russia about the advice they gave about the festival, and whether they had representatives there. They have not had the opportunity to comment on news’s inquiries. Vice-rector Winther says that visits from Norwegian academics can be used for Russian propaganda. – We only note that it has happened and have to apologize for it. Bjørklund replies: – I cannot see that my visit has been exploited by the Russian media for propaganda purposes. Published 08.07.2024, at 21.52 Updated 08.07.2024, at 21.59
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Norwegian professors went to a seminar and festival in Russia – news Troms and Finnmark
