Why flowers on the NATO border with Russia are now worrying Norwegians

Mercury Why flowers on the NATO border with Russia are now worrying Norwegians Article by Peter Sieben • 4 hours Ukraine war Why flowers on the NATO border with Russia are now worrying Norwegians A strange phenomenon is causing unrest in the far north of Norway: flowers keep appearing on Russian war memorials. No coincidence, experts believe. Oslo/Kirkenes - If you're not careful, the catchy tune will catch on: "Tell me where the flowers are" - you'll immediately hear the voice of Marlene Dietrich, who once made the song a global hit. A song about soldiers, graves and flowers on them - and about how the war always starts again in an endless cycle. High in the north of Norway, on the border with Russia, these days Kirkenes in Norway: At the top of NATO's northern flank The Norwegian town of Kirkenes is just a few kilometers from the border crossing with Russia. The region is Norway's northernmost tip of land on the so-called northern flank that separates NATO territory from Russia. Norwegians and Russians have been living next door to each other here for many years. A special regulation that was unique in Europe applied to them: Russians and Norwegians were allowed to move back and forth between the countries without a visa within a 30-kilometer zone. There was brisk trade and close family relationships. This is now over: since Russia's attack on Ukraine, the border has been closed. Suddenly flowers keep appearing at Russian war memorials Are Tomasgard from the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions LO on a balcony in the government district of Oslo “The situation is difficult for everyone who lives there. For example, many have lost their jobs,” says Are Tomasgard. He is responsible, among other things, for security policy at the LO trade union confederation in the Norwegian capital Oslo and frequently visits the border region as part of his work. The Kimek shipyard in Kirkenes, a large employer, is in trouble because the customers came from Russia. The order books are full, but: “Customers can no longer pay for their orders because of the sanctions.” The mood on site is tense and a strange phenomenon is giving many people a stomach ache: “Suddenly flowers keep appearing on Russian war memorials, something that happened before “It hasn’t happened for decades,” says Tomasgard, showing photos of it on his cell phone. The Russian monuments in the border area are intended to commemorate the liberation of Norway from the Nazis by the Red Army on October 25, 1944. Now more and more such monuments are suddenly being built, says Tomasgard. In view of the war in Ukraine, many find this strange and even threatening. This repeatedly leads to disputes between opponents of the war and pro-Russian residents. Russian war memorial in Kirkenes in Norway Consul General of Russia causes scandal in Norway Now there was a scandal that even Norwegian television reported nationally: The Russian Consul General Nikolaj Konygin had placed a wreath in Russian national colors at the so-called Liberation Monument over the official floral decorations of the municipality of Sør-Varanger, to which Kirkenes belongs. An affront - so great that Mayor Magnus Mæland felt compelled to place the Russian wreath behind the municipality's Swedish wreath. The game continued: someone secretly brought the Russian wreath back to the front and someone else then removed it again. What may at first glance read like a local farce is actually taken very seriously in Norway. “In recent years, the Russian government has wanted, planned or built several monuments in the region. This is no coincidence,” says Ragnhild Skare from the Norwegian research platform Utsyn, which deals with foreign and security policy. “We see that the Russian government is actively using the unique history and atmosphere of the far north of Norway to spread its narrative about the Second World War,” said Skare. Accusation: Russia wants to raise spirits in view of the war in Ukraine After decades of close relations between Norwegians and Russians in the north, feelings towards Russia there are different than in the south. “There are not many other places in Europe with such important strategic significance and a similar history and mood.” It is worrying, but not surprising, that Russia is now using this to its advantage and is positioning itself as a great liberator, even against the backdrop of Ukraine -War talk: From the beginning, Russian President Vladimir Putin sold the invasion as an alleged liberation operation.