“Norway should have room for Russian academics”
However, creating special Norwegian visa rules for Russians is not a good solution.
This is a leader. The editorial expresses Bergens Tidende’s journalistic idea: A party-politically independent, independent, liberal and bourgeois (non-socialist) newspaper.
Norway should make it easier for Russian academics to apply for residence in this country, believes Liberal Party representative Alfred Bjørlo.
He tells NRK that we should accept people who oppose the Russian regime, who need asylum and who have the education and expertise that Norway will need in the years ahead.
It is fundamentally important that the world supports Ukraine by being restrictive towards Russian citizens. Bjørlo’s proposal is nevertheless interesting.
It is special three reasons why this can be a sensible policy: Firstly, it can help individuals in a difficult situation. The academic academy in Russia is becoming increasingly free.
Secondly, it can weaken Russia’s economy and ability to wage war by draining the country of expertise.
Thirdly, these people will be able to contribute much-needed expertise here in Norway.
Creating an opportunity for a brain drain for Russian academics and other specialists can help weaken the Putin regime’s ability to wage war, both abroad and against its own population.
Bjørlo’s proposal should nevertheless met with great caution.
We know that cyber attacks are frequently used from the Russian side, also against Norway. The state should be extremely careful about rolling out the runner for espionage from apparently regime-critical Russian emigrants.
Exception rules and special arrangements are also something the state should preferably avoid.
There are many vulnerable groups in the world today. Norway could find itself in a difficult conflict of interest if the state itself takes the initiative to create a special arrangement for Russian academics.
The International Asylum Institute must be the basis. This is already possible to provide protection on political and humanitarian grounds.
Among other things, Norway welcomed several opposition figures, including artists and musicians, after the coup d’état in Chile in 1973.
As a neighboring country Russia, it can be argued that Norway should contribute to being a safe haven for Russian academics.
The state should nevertheless not be responsible for the initiative itself – and beware of being naive.