– I am applying for asylum in Norway because it is unsafe for me to live in Russia. Two things put me off. One is activism and that I have publicly stated that I am against the war. The second is the possibility that I can be mobilized for the war, says Slupachik to news in sounding Northern Sami. He has a year’s study in Northern Sami at the Sami University in Kautokeino. He has developed his language skills by using the language actively. On 15 December last year, Slupachik and his wife Neli (32) crossed the border from Russia to Storskog in Sør-Varanger. They immediately reported to the police that they want to apply for political asylum in Norway. The couple want to avoid the same problems that Sami activist Andrei Danilov is in the middle of. He had a visa for Switzerland when he applied for asylum in Norway. UDI has followed international conventions and has so far refused to process Danilov’s application. – Of course I thought about it. We have visas for Norway and we came directly from Russia to Norway. It was very important for us, says Slupachik. STILL WAITING: The Sami indigenous activist Andrei Danilov came to Norway shortly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began. He is still waiting for the case to be resolved. Photo: Dan Robert Larsen / news – War is a bad solution On 24 February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. On 11 April, or a month and a half later, Slupachik announced that the Public Organization for the Sami in the Murmansk Region (OOSMO) does not support the war. Slupachik is a leader in the organization. – I officially declare on behalf of OOSMO that we are against the war in Ukraine, Slupachik told news. Today, he elaborates on his position. – It is not a good idea to go to war against our Ukrainian brothers and sisters. This is not a good solution in our time. It is scary that this is really happening, says Slupachik. AGAINST WAR: Aleksandr Slupachik made it clear early on that he is against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. – In my hometown of Lovozero there are many people who support the war. They can openly talk about that. If you speak negatively about the war, you can be punished, he explains. Photo: Private Gets support from the Sami Council He says that there have been some unwanted incidents after he spoke negatively about the war. However, he will not say what it is about. – I have not received a formal call for mobilization, but I know that it can happen. Many activists have experienced it. Among indigenous peoples, a larger proportion are called up for the war than among the rest of the population, Slupachik explains. AGAINST MOBILIZATION: Some brave Russians protest against the war and the mobilization of Russian civilians for the war. Photo: Unknown Slupachik has for several years been a member of the Sami Council, an umbrella organization for Sami organizations in Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia. Secretary General of the Sami Council, Aile Javo, has only good things to say about Slupachik. – Aleksandr Slupachik is a brave man. He dares to say things out loud, where others remain silent. He has spoken out about the war. For years he has fought against polluting mining in indigenous areas, says Javo. COLLABORATION PARTNERS: General Secretary Aile Javo has worked together with Aleksandr Slupachik in the Sami Council for several years. Photo: Samuel Frode Grønmo / news 282 Russian asylum seekers The Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) states that a record number of refugees came to Norway in 2022. 40,005 people applied for protection in Norway in 2022. Most came from Ukraine, 35,089. There was also a sharp increase in the number of refugees from countries other than Ukraine. RECORD YEAR: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has led to a record number of people applying for protection in Norway. Photo: UDI Last year there were 282 asylum applications from Russian citizens. Most of the applications came after Russia’s invasion began. Only Ukraine, Syria, Afghanistan and Eritrea have more asylum seekers. – We do not yet have an overview of how many of these have had their application approved, says Director Frode Forfang of the UDI to news. MANY REASONS: UDI has not yet managed to produce statistics on the reasons Russians have for applying for asylum in Norway. – Many explain that they are being persecuted because of their political activities. Others want to escape military service and war, explains UDI director Frode Forfang. Photo: Dan Robert Larsen / news Life on hold Aleksandr Slupachik says that it is not easy to have life on hold in an arrival center for asylum seekers. But he is happy that Norway gives people the opportunity to achieve security. – Life here consists of waiting. There is a lot of uncertainty. You don’t know what the future will bring. The most important thing is that it feels safe to be here, says Slupachik. – The processing time has to do with capacity. We had a sharp increase in ordinary asylum arrivals, especially from July-August last year and throughout the year. The increase is the most important reason why it takes longer, explains Forfang.
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Sami activist Aleksandr Slupachik (33) seeks asylum in Norway – news Sápmi
