Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has led to sanctions against Russia from several quarters, including the West and the EU. Several private actors in Norway have also introduced their own sanctions against Russians. The wine monopoly has removed all Russian goods, and The Munch Museum freezes ongoing collaborations with Russian art institutions.
This week, Viking Hotel in Tromsø also announced that they are opening their doors to Ukrainian refugees. They offer free accommodation and interpreters to the refugees, in addition to allocating 100,000 kroner to Ukraine.
At the same time, the hotel says that they do not want to have Russian guests staying with them.
– STANDING: Hotel founder for Enter in Tromsø says they will not go back on the decision despite strong criticism. Photo: Private
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– There is a poster in our reception that we do not want to receive Russian guests, says Idar Gabrielsen to TV 2.
He is the founder of the hotel chain Enter in Tromsø, and says the decision is a political mark.
– We feel that it is our way of saying that it is not right, what is happening, says Gabrielsen.
– Can not refuse
Gabrielsen says that the human reaction the Ukrainians can get if they meet people from Russia is another reason for not welcoming the Russians.
– We can not prevent it or deny it, but we try to avoid it, he says.
Gabrielsen emphasizes that no one is refused to stay overnight at the hotel, and that the receptionists will receive everyone who comes in a pleasant way if they want to stay overnight with them.
– It is not the case that we have anything against Russians or that we refuse them to come to us, but we do not want to have Russians in the hotel when there are many refugees from a war-torn country, says Gabrielsen.
It was the newspaper Northern Lights who mentioned the case first.
– UKRAINIAN GUESTS: On a poster at the reception, the hotel welcomes Ukrainian guests. Photo: Daniel Berg Fosseng / TV 2
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Strong reactions
Gabrielsen says that there have been many reactions after the poster was hung up in the reception.
– We have received a lot of strong and negative reactions that impose on us motives that we do not have, that believe that we are driven by hatred or discrimination or one with the other, and it is as far away from the truth as it can be, says Gabrielsen.
The hotel will not reconsider the decision despite the reactions.
– This has been thoroughly discussed and we are responsible for what we do. We stand by that, says Gabrielsen, and continues:
– We are probably in the gray zone legally when we say that we do not want them, but we do not deny them, he says.
– UNWANTED: The hotel does not want Russian guests when many refugees from Ukraine are expected. Photo: Daniel Berg Fosseng / TV 2
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Traffic school with Putin questions
warn Northern Lights also mentioned another form of private sanction this week.
On Thursday, the newspaper reported that Wright traffic school in Tromsø was to ask all Russian driving students what their position was on the war. If they were on Putin’s side, they were not allowed to ride with them.
The traffic school subsequently met with strong criticism, and the general manager, Øystein Pedersen, turned the matter around on Friday. Now he says that no students, neither Russians nor others, are asked about their political views.
Pedersen does not want to comment on the case further to TV 2 on Friday, but refers to the statement in Nordlys:
– When I stick my head out, I have to endure getting one on my face. In any case, I have achieved something I wanted to do: to focus on the injustice that Ukraine is inflicting on Russia. And then I have managed to show my point of view.
Director of Wright, Ståle Hellum, writes in an e-mail to TV 2 that it has never been approved centrally that their driving schools should discriminate against Russians or others.
– What has been approved is possibly a sympathy flag in a car for Ukraine. Wright strongly dissociates himself from any discriminatory activity.
– Stigmatizing
The leader of Troms and Finnmark Unge Høyre, Anders Tørresen, reacts to the sanctions received by Russians in Norway. He himself is half Russian and believes it is important to show support for both Ukrainians and Russians affected by the war.
– There are many Russians who have relatives in Ukraine and vice versa, and who even then are very strongly affected by the war. I believe that we must show support for both Ukrainians and Russians who are affected and who are fighting against incitement and stigma, says Tørresen to TV 2.
– DISAGREE: Anders Tørresen believes it must be possible to show support for Ukraine without stigmatizing Russians. Photo: Private
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He points out that Tromsø is an international city where many Russians also live.
“Among other things, there are many Russians who live in Tromsø and who have families who are affected by the war and the propaganda of the Russian regime,” he told TV 2.
Tørresen believes that support must be shown in a way that does not stigmatize an entire people.
– One should not hold an entire ethnic group responsible for the actions of one man and one regime, especially in a city like Tromsø, which has a very large international population, then one should support Ukraine in a way that does not stigmatize an entire ethnic group, says Tørresen .
He says there are many, both Russian and Ukrainian families who are divided in the case, and that it is a tragedy for Ukraine, but also for Russia.
– I am worried because I have relatives in Ukraine who are in the middle of the war, but I am also afraid of my family in Russia, who may risk being imprisoned if they disagree with the regime.
– I think it is important to point out that the war was waged by Putin, and not by Russia. Then we must support a fight for peace in Ukraine, but also for freedom in Russia, he says.
Tørresen disagrees with the way both the hotel and the driving school in the city have proceeded.
– It is wrong what the hotels do, and as the driving school did. It is very good that they show support for Ukraine, but it must be done in a way that does not stigmatize an entire people who already feel a lot of psychological pressure, when they have families who are in this here, and maybe on both sides, he says.
– CRITICISM: A hotel and a driving school in Tromsø have been criticized after private sanctions against Russians. Photo: Nils Ole Refvik / TV 2
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– Must distinguish between people and authorities
Amnesty also strongly dissociates itself from private actors who implement their own sanctions against Russians in Norway.
“We have great understanding for the great commitment and sympathy for the people of Ukraine who are in the midst of enormous trials and suffering due to Russia’s war of aggression,” political adviser at Amnesty, Beate Ekeløve-Slydal, told TV 2.
– But, we must distinguish between Russian people and Russian authorities, and not hold any Russian responsible for what Putin and the Russian authorities do, she continues.
Ekeløve-Slydal says that there is no freedom of expression and demonstration in Russia, and that the Russian regime has almost full control over all media and thus controls all information.
– CRITICAL: Amnesty’s political adviser, Beate Ekeløve-Slydal, believes it is important to distinguish between Russian people and the authorities. Photo: Kristin Rødland Buick
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– Those who dare to say or write something that can be perceived as criticism of Russia’s war of aggression, or that do not correspond to the regime’s propaganda, risk 15 years in prison under a completely new law introduced by the regime. Thousands of people who have dared to demonstrate against the war have been imprisoned. That is why many are now fleeing Russia. We must also receive them and provide protection.
– Many people think this is discrimination, do you agree?
– Yes, if we discriminate and sanction Russians in Norway just because they are Russians, then there is discrimination, she says.
She also fears that such private sanctions may contribute to stigmatizing Russians.
– Such a form of behavior could contribute to stigmatizing Russians in Norway, and legitimize exclusion, harassment, and in the worst case threats against Russians in Norway, she says and continues:
– Adults have a great responsibility to be good role models for children and young people, and we do not want behavior that can lead to Russian children and young people in Norway being exposed to bullying and threats because they are Russians.
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