Last week, Matilda Karlsson (6) sent a letter to Prime Minister Erna Solberg. She hopes that she will soon be allowed to see her dear grandparents again.
Matilda misses them deeply, says mother Marina Marmilova Karlsson.
– We miss them. She misses them so much. There are two people who are very dear to her, says Marina to Dagbladet.
– Do not feel welcome
Marina comes from Russia and is married to Swedish Mattias Karlsson. She has lived in Norway for eleven years. She feels let down by the Norwegian authorities. Especially on behalf of the daughters.
The mother of two says that Matilda sat down the other day and started writing a letter to Solberg, because she missed her grandparents so much.
– I do not think we will be answered. We who are foreigners in Norway have no voting rights. They do not care about us. We have not felt welcome in this country in the last year.
WRITE LETTER: Here is Matilda’s full letter. Will she hear from the Prime Minister? Photo: Private
view more
The passports have expired
The reason why the family of four cannot see their grandparents is because they live in Russia. The Eurasian country is not one of the purple countries outside the EU with milder entry restrictions.
In addition, it has been a particularly complicated situation for the Karlsson family, as father and child have Swedish citizenship. The girls’ passports have expired and the parents are very frustrated by the long passport queue in the neighboring country.
– Now we’re sitting here. We may not be imprisoned, but we feel locked in.
– We can not travel abroad when the children have expired passports. Without the opportunity to meet either Russian or Swedish family. Many have advised us to meet our family abroad, but it will be very expensive for all parties, says Marina.
She says that the next opportunity to renew the daughters’ passports is in September. There will be a long wait.
PARENTS: Mum Marina and dad Mattias hope their two little ones can soon experience parts of their culture again. Here they are on a trip with Matilda. Photo: Private
view more
Marina says that Matilda often used to spend a lot of time with her grandmother from Russia. The family was visited three to four times a year by her grandmother, and Matilda used to spend whole summers with her grandparents in Russia, until the pandemic began to ravage.
– It is very sad. By visiting her mother, she became acquainted with her culture and learned the Russian language. Her grandmother and grandfather are very dear to her.
Marina needs to take a break. Matilda runs around the home office in their house. She starts to cry. It is difficult to talk about dreams being shattered.
– It hurts so much to see that the children’s dream is shattered for the second year in a row. They want such a simple thing as having their grandmother visit, but are not allowed to. It’s not easy to talk about. It is unbelievable that this could happen to us in this country.
view more
–
– Set new bloom
When Dagbladet addresses the Prime Minister’s Office (SMK) and the Ministry of Justice about the Karlsson family’s situation, and tells about Matilda’s letter, it is State Secretary Thor Kleppen Sættem (H) who answers.
– It is very easy to understand that it is a heavy and difficult time for many during the pandemic. But the rules we have about entry and exit are absolutely necessary to prevent the spread of infection, Sættem tells Dagbladet.
– There are many who experience that they have sacrificed a lot in the pandemic. Unfortunately, the pandemic is not over yet. We have seen a resurgence in many nearby countries in recent times. Therefore, we must continue to open slowly and safely, so that the infection does not flourish again in Norway.
ANSWER: State Secretary Thor Kleppen Sættem (H). Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB
view more
– When will you ease the entry and exit rules? Many people miss their families.
– Assessments are made all the time. It all depends on how the infection situation is in Norway. We hope that Matilda will soon have the opportunity to visit her family, or have them visit. But it will be the infection situation that decides when it will happen.
These countries are turning orange
– The Prime Minister must answer
Furthermore, Sættem makes it clear that stage four of the reopening plan will come no earlier than the end of July, or the beginning of August, depending on the infection situation.
– The goal is to keep it as open as possible. The fact that they are not Norwegian citizens does not change the wish, we hope that those who live in our country will see family and loved ones again as soon as possible.
Sættem also makes it clear that Prime Minister Erna Solberg will respond to Matilda’s letter.
– We also know that the Prime Minister will respond to the letter when she returns to the office after the summer holidays.
MUST ANSWER: State Secretary Thor Kleppen Sættem tells Dagbladet that Erna Solberg must respond to Matilda’s letter when she returns from summer vacation. Photo: Lars Eivind Bones / Dagbladet
view more
When it will be eased on entry and exit rules remains to be seen. Marina appreciates that the Prime Minister will answer her daughter, but the most important thing for her is that children with families abroad should be able to see their families as soon as possible.
She believes it is important that the authorities prioritize family and loved ones only when new relief comes.
– Grandparents mean the whole world to you after mom and dad when you are 3-6 years old, so I struggle with new explanations for my curious and impatient daughters. Matilda has asked if grandma she does not love her anymore.
Suddenly the interview is interrupted. Marina sits in front of the computer and works, while Matilda thinks of pranks in the background. The laughter is heard through the phone.
– I was just sprayed with water. Matilda got hold of one of our plant sprays, laughs Marina.
She says that there are still uplifting moments in what she describes as a difficult time.
Now the family is waiting for a change. Soon.
–
