– It is important that we show our opposition to Russia’s war in Ukraine, but I believe that we do not demonstrate this with a tighter visa policy, says Guro Brandshaug. She is general manager of the company Orinor and mayoral candidate for Sør-Varanger Labor Party. Russia stepped up the mobilization of soldiers for the war in Ukraine last Wednesday. The next day, Norway canceled the visa agreement. This means that it will be more difficult to get a visa. Today, Finland announced that it will no longer be possible to come from Russia on an ordinary tourist visa. Several sources, including the online newspaper Meduza, report that the new soldiers are being sent to the front without any training. Many have been given useless weapons and forced to buy equipment with their own money. Refugees from the mobilization On the border at Storskog, traffic decreased slightly on Thursday, after a marked increase around the weekend, according to the police in Finnmark. On Monday, there were over 400. Several dozen men then confirmed to news that they are fleeing the mobilization. On Thursday, 162 people crossed the border at Storskog. – There is still a fairly limited number, but we are experiencing that the hotels are filling up and that the planes are filling up. It is a very challenging situation for those who come over here, says Guro Brandshaug. She hopes the Norwegian authorities will pay close attention. – We have the situation with the refugee crisis in 2015 fresh in our minds, and I hope we will not have to repeat that history, says Brandshaug. She believes Sør-Varanger municipality and the population were left quite alone to deal with the situation. Asylum seekers on their way into Norway in December 2015. The flow of refugees that winter became a major challenge for the local community in Sør-Varanger. Photo: Nils Henrik Måsø / news Needs protection But the solution is not to deny the Russians access to Norway, says Brandshaug. She believes that many people have good reasons for seeking protection in Norway. – It is often oppositionists who fear for their lives who want to come here to the country. If we shut them out now, I’m afraid it reinforces Putin’s propaganda story about a West that wants the Russian population to hurt. – At the same time, it sends out a signal that we condemn the entire Russian people; that we are no longer able to distinguish between the Russian regime and their supporters, and the part of the Russian population that actually wants to show opposition to the hostilities. Brandshaug believes that there are more than conscientious objectors who may need help, and points out that pride has just been organized in Kirkenes. – There we hardly got over the Russian pride participants. It is undoubtedly a group that is threatened in its homeland. At the same time, there has also been talk for a long time about artists and journalists from Russia who absolutely need protection. Mayor Lena Norum Bergeng, photographed here during a demonstration against the war in August. Photo: Kristina Kalinina / news No increased preparedness Mayor Lena Norum Bergeng in Sør-Varanger is not worried that the influx of Russian men will pose a problem for the municipality. – I have not realized that anyone wants to stay for a longer period of time. As I see the situation, they are on their way further south in Europe. The police also say that the vast majority say they are traveling south. Bergeng points out that people with a valid visa must document that they have a means of subsistence and can fend for themselves when they enter the country. – As of now, things are going smoothly, and there is no one suggesting that we should increase preparedness, says Bergeng. At the same time, she assumes that the immigration authorities follow along and are ready to take responsibility for any asylum applications as they arise. Those who cross the border at Storskog with a tourist visa document that they have money to support themselves. Photo: Stian Strøm / news
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