– Regardless of what the internal guidelines say, the principle of academic freedom of expression is weighty, and it must come first. This is what professor of jurisprudence at the University of Oslo (UiO), Mads Andenæs, tells news. In recent days, the debate has raged, after it became known on Monday that two professors, one of whom is professor emeritus, traveled to Russia in June. Andenæs, who is one of the country’s leading legal experts, believes there is no doubt that the case is a personnel matter. But the legal expert believes that it is vice-chancellor Jan-Gunnar Winter against whom personnel proceedings should be instituted. Changed explanation In the period 21–25 In June, Professor Urban Wråkberg and Professor Emeritus Ivar Bjørklund participated in several events in Russia. Both are professors connected to UiT – Norway’s Arctic University. In an interview with news on Tuesday, the vice-chancellor for research and development at UiT, Jan-Gunnar Winther, stated that the university treated the case as a personnel matter. – We are in a phase where we are surveying what actually happened, so that we can get the facts, then we will treat this as a personnel matter, he said. On Wednesday evening, in a debate on Dagsnytt 18, however, he came up with a different explanation. – First, I would like to say that no personnel file has been created. The university’s management cannot refuse anyone to go to Russia, he said. The debate can be seen in its entirety at the bottom of the issue. Lawyer and freedom of expression expert Anine Kierulf and Professor Bjørklund also presented there. Eirik Veum is senior communications advisor at PST. Photo: Marius Christensen / news PST warns of private assessments On Tuesday, PST stepped out and warned against individual employees at Norwegian universities and institutions putting their own private assessments ahead of the institutions’ own guidelines in their contact with Russia. – Although in the current policy towards Russia there is an opening for researcher-to-researcher collaboration, the assessments for what constitutes a possible breach of the sanctions provisions will be the same, said senior communications advisor Eirik Veum in PST. He was aware that clearer guidelines were needed to avoid confusion and gray areas. – If a perception is established that there is a difference between the room for action of the institutions versus the room for action of individual researchers, then this increases the danger of Norwegian research being exploited and abused by other countries’ authorities, said Veum. PERSONNEL CASE: Pro-rector for research and development at UiT, Jan-Gunnar Winther, stated on Wednesday that no personnel case had been established. Totally contradicts his previous statement. Photo: Arne Egil Tønset / news Personnel case Legal expert Andenæs has no doubt that the case should become a personnel case. – But the personnel matter should be directed at the vice-chancellor. He has spoken in such a way that he should apologise, he says. And adds: – Those who have opposed freedom of expression and democracy must come to terms with themselves, lie flat and apologise, says Andenæs. UiT: Several experts react to UiT – Norway’s Arctic University’s handling of the matter. Photo: Sofie Retterstøl Olaisen / news news has submitted the criticism from Andenæs to Vice Chancellor Winther. He is clear that UiT is a defender of academic freedom of expression. Furthermore, UiT, but everyone connected to the institution, has responsibility for taking precautions as a result of the special security policy situation. – When the case first became known to the management at UiT, our impression was that it was of a more serious nature than it has turned out to be. Now the circumstances are more enlightened, and we can state that the two participants from UiT have not broken any formal rules, neither at national nor at UiT level, he replies, before continuing: – We also recognize that Ivar Bjørklund, who entered in the program for the festival, tried as best he could to avoid being referred to as a representative from UiT. As said on news/Dagsnytt 18 yesterday, personnel cases have not been opened against anyone who has been on the trip in question. news has been in contact with acting rector at UiT, Kathrine Tveiterås, who confirms that the university has not created any personnel file. Neither against Ivar Bjørklund, Urban Wråkberg or vice-chancellor Winther. Read the full response to vice-rector Winther: Photo: Arne Egil Tønset / news news has submitted the criticism from Mads Andenæs to the vice-rector for research and development at UiT – Norway’s Arctic University, Jan-Gunnar Winther, who responds to the criticism as follows: – At the same time, both UiT and everyone connected to the institution responsible for taking precautions as a result of the special security policy situation. – When the case first became known to the management at UiT, our impression was that it was of a more serious nature than it has turned out to be. The situation is now more clear, and we can state that the two participants from UiT have not broken any formal rules, neither at national nor at UiT level. We also recognize that Ivar Bjørklund, who was part of the program for the festival, tried as best he could to avoid being referred to as a representative from UiT. As said on news/Dagsnytt 18 yesterday, personnel cases have not been opened against anyone who has been on the trip in question. – UiT will nevertheless maintain that people connected to the university should consult with colleagues and managers if they are planning trips where they will attend official functions. We also generally recommend following the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ travel advice. This is the easiest way to avoid misunderstandings arising and your own participation being misused or misrepresented. news has been in contact with acting rector at UiT, Kathrine Tveiterås, about the matter. She makes it clear that the university stands behind the statements Winther makes in this case. Internal guidelines On Monday, when the case first became known through a case in Nordlys, Winther stated that they considered the case to be “a breach of the institution’s rules, and take it seriously”. – It is a rather strong statement, which has personnel policy aspects, says Professor Bjørklund. Lawyer and freedom of expression expert Kierulf himself believes that internal guidelines are not sufficient to carry out “this type of intervention”. – It is obvious that this has also not been well enough known for it to have been clear to the relevant researchers, she says. REACTING: lawyer and freedom of expression expert Anine Kierulf. Photo: Mirwais Moquim / news Kierulf receives support from Andenæs, who believes that the principle of freedom of expression, even if one had a basis in law or regulations, takes precedence. – We must not then use instruments like these other regimes, with which we do not like to compare ourselves, and which are on the other side. We must not use means that they could use. We must uphold the rule of law and freedom of expression, because what else are we fighting for? Winther emphasized in Wednesday’s Dagsnytt 18 that universities cannot refuse someone to travel to Russia, but that they have their own internal guidelines. The guidelines are rooted in national ones, and describe that researcher-to-researcher collaboration is permitted and desirable. This is what the Ministry of Education says about the matter: news has been in contact with the Ministry of Education about the matter. The ministry informs news that they do not comment on individual cases. The Ministry of Education nevertheless states the following: – As a general rule, all cooperation between Norwegian and Russian authorities in the field of education and research is suspended, and all agreements between Norwegian and Russian educational and research institutions are put on hold. At the same time, it has been opened for researcher-to-researcher collaboration to continue. – It is important that each individual researcher makes thorough assessments of their own research collaboration with Russian researchers. Any dialogue, participation in meetings etc. must be assessed in each individual case. This can involve demanding trade-offs. The Ministry of Education has presented guidelines for responsible international cooperation, which will assist the sector in making knowledge-based assessments. It is important that the individual researcher seeks advice and guidance in the assessment of their research collaboration, so that national interests and the applicable rules for contact with Russia are safeguarded. – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has travel advice for Russia, as for some other countries, where all travel is advised against. UiT regrets that two of the professors traveled to the Russian cultural festival. The professor fights back. Published 11.07.2024, at 17.01 Updated 11.07.2024, at 17.53
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UiT researchers were criticized after their trip to Russia – legal expert lashes out at the university – news Troms and Finnmark
