There was full discord at the liberation monument in Kirkenes on Wednesday morning. The consul general in Kirkenes defied calls not to participate in the commemoration. Nikolay Konygin also chose to lay a Russian wreath, and that over Sør-Varanger municipality’s own wreath. Mayor Magnus Mæland (H) was furious. He then chose to move the Russian wreath away. But it didn’t stop there. Shortly afterwards, a Russian woman chose to move the Russian wreath back, and again the Norwegian wreath was hidden behind the Russian one. Before this, Konygin left the square. He did not want to answer questions from news’s reporter on the spot. – You don’t behave like that here. One must respect the fact that Sør-Varanger municipalities have laid an official wreath on the liberation monument, says mayor Magnus Mæland. He is clear that you have freedom of expression in Norway. – You should be able to lay flowers at a monument, but not over the municipality’s official wreath. Mayor Magnus Mæland (H) removed the wreath, but then it was put back. Here when he laid down the municipality’s wreath. Photo: Gunnar Sætra / news 79 years since liberation Today is 79 years since Soviet forces liberated Eastern Finnmark during the Second World War. In advance, several people in Eastern Finnmark have urged the Russian authorities to stay away. – Official representatives of Russia should not hold any commemoration or show themselves at memorials, which are on Norwegian soil, write Marit Bjerkeng and Sunde in a chronicle. For a number of years, people have gathered at the monument on Liberation Day, October 25. This applies to residents, descendants and official representatives from Russia and Norway. Wanted to invite Zelenskyj Last year’s commemorations were a protest against the war in Ukraine. This year, the focus shifts to the Russian authorities. At the opening of the county council earlier in October, county mayor Hans-Jacob Bønå said that he would invite Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyj, to the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Eastern Finnmark. – Today we stand with our brothers and sisters in Ukraine in their fight for what we ourselves have: A separate country where people decide their own future, Bønå said in the speech. Earlier in October, when Hans-Jacob Bønå became county mayor, he said that he would invite Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyj, to the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Eastern Finnmark. Photo: Jonas Løken Estenstad / news During the liberation of Finnmark, the first Soviet troop to arrive was led by a Ukrainian officer. – By inviting the President of Ukraine, we want to show our gratitude for the Ukrainian soldiers who sacrificed blood during the liberation of Eastern Finnmark, their descendants and their fatherland, said Bønå. – Strong war stories Several local actors in Sør-Varanger have spoken up to express their opinion about what is written in the chronicle. Rune Rafaelsen (Ap) is a retired mayor and now a local politician in Sør-Varanger. Throughout his years in local politics, he has collaborated a lot with the Russian side. – As long as Putin has attacked a neighboring country, there will be no basis for their participation. He has destroyed the memory of the Red Army, says Rafaelsen. Former mayor of the Center Party in Sør-Varanger, Cecilie Hansen distances herself from Russia’s actions in the war against Ukraine. Former mayor of Sør-Varanger Cecilie Hansen believes that it is right that Russian government officials should be able to mark. Photo: Tarjei Abelsen/news But she thinks it is right that Russian government officials should be able to mark liberation day at the liberation monument in Kirkenes. – There are strong war stories here. There may not be veterans from the liberation left in Kirkenes, but there are descendants here. I do not think that we should deny government officials their marking.
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The consul general in Kirkenes defied requests – news Troms and Finnmark
