Norway under the blow of Russian propaganda: what is known about the new » Putin’s’ ‘Party’ in northern Europe
« Use our money for well -being – not for war! No 85 billion to war in Ukraine! » – Such political advertising on May 17, when Norway celebrated the Constitution Day, flooded Oslo.
Posters with anti -Ukrainian statements appeared in the trams, metro cars and at the Central Railway Station. Advertising appeared at a time when the Norwegian government approved a significant, almost threefold, expanding the Kiev financial aid package – it was increased from 35 to 85 billion crowns (about $ 7.8 billion).
The anti -Ukrainian campaign is still being promoted by the little -known party « For Peace and Justice » (PARTIET FRED OG RETTFERDIGHET, or abbreviated For) – It is significant that this political force was registered only in January this year.
However, the party hopes to significantly increase popularity by proposing to send these funds for social assistance to Norwegians.
This is important, because in the fall, the parliamentary elections will be held in Norway.
Although the likelihood that the new government will review the country’s external course on Ukraine and the Russian Federation, the minimum, the passage to the parliament is openly anti -Ukrainian political forces will work for the destruction of the current pro -Ukrainian consensus, which has developed in Norway.
Therefore, it is necessary to understand in more detail who is standing and who finances this political force (spoiler – without a Russian trace was not done).
Campaign stopped by simple Norwegians
The scandalous advertising campaign made for famous.
First of all, the Norwegians were interested in where the party took the money for such an active campaign and whether the law on party financing was violated (on May 27 it became known that formal violations were still were not found).
And of course, a sharp critic began to be heard at the scandalous campaign for almost immediately. In particular, fork was accused of spreading Kremlin propaganda.
« I am very indignant that hundreds of Ukrainian children who have escaped to Norway should see these messages, » Matilda Tubring-Gedde said a deputy from the Conservative Party.
Liberal Party representative and Oslo City Council member on Galstein Byhorke Finance was even more sharply:
« This party and its message are garbage. »
The Prime Minister of Jonas Garu Steoor had to react and statedthat « fundamentally disagreed » with the position for for.
« The Norwegian Parliament is the only one in its support of Ukraine. It is fighting, which also concerns our values and has consequences for our security policy, » he added.
Particularly pleasing the reaction of the average Norwegians. The anti -Ukrainian advertising campaign was to last until May 25, but almost immediately weep began to cry pluck ordinary passers -by then leader for Mariel Leran She wandered on « vandalism » and announced the early termination of the campaign.
Although Laran called the campaign « one hundred percent successful ». According to her, after the history with posters of the party the party is replenished almost 100 people daily.
« We are glad to report that in recent days we have been having a successful campaign for peace and well -being … We appeared on the first pages of all nationwide newspapers of Norway, » – – They praised in for.
Anti -Ukrainian agitation for. Photo from a party page on x
Worse than the Communists
The history with posters calling for the termination of Ukraine’s military assistance for such a party as « for peace and justice » was almost not mentioned in Norway. Sociologists do not currently include this party in their questionnaires.
And it’s not surprising. The party was officially established in 2023, and only at the beginning of this year they managed to collect 5,000 signatures necessary for participation in the parliamentary elections and hold the first congress.
Much for for for for are from the left -wing party RØDT (« Red »), one of the founders of which is the Communist Party of Norway.
This political force has long been considered a mouthpiece of pro -Russian propaganda in Norway. However, 2022 changed everything.
Having condemned the Russian invasion, the Reds have long hesitated to support the government’s actions to provide Ukraine with weapons – the relevant decision was made only in April 2023.
And the consequence was a way out of the party of a number of members, especially those who actively promoted pro -Russian theses.
Among them is the deputy head of « Red » and the current leader for Mariel Leran.
It was still celebrated by scandalous statements about Ukraine. In particular, in January 2023 in his article Leran She wrotethat the war in Ukraine is « proxy against Russia ». She also argued that the Ukrainian people « not so united in the fight against Russia, as we are forced to believe the Western narrative. »
These views are fully displayed in the for.
In particular, they want to withdraw NATO -NATO and the European Economic Area Agreement. And the party wants to eliminate the Norwegian special services, open borders for refugees, and also stop oil production on the Norwegian Continental Shelf and allow poorer countries to sell oil and gas.
Ultral agenda for fork is closely intertwined with Kremlin propaganda. Especially – for Ukraine.
« Instead of spending 85 billion per war in Ukraine, we can introduce free public transport with a significant expansion of the range of services, introduce free dental care for all and free kindergartens, post -school classes, school lunches and sports and cultural activities for children and young people. It is affirmed on the party’s website.
However, for the forces, they are carefully rejected with the Russian Federation and even try to criticize Vladimir Putin.
« Putin is in no way our hero. Who is Putin? This is a reactionary, national-conservative and authoritarian policies who abolished freedom of speech and assembly in Russia, banned human rights and environmental organizations … and advocates homosexual oppression, » the candidate said.
However, these attempts are broken down into one simple question: where does the party come from? In particular, the costs of anti -Ukrainian advertising campaign are estimated at the level of 1.4 million Norwegian crowns (almost 122 thousand euros).
Norwegian from Murmansk
In Norway, there were immediately questions, and who finances the advertising campaign of the party, which until recently was almost unknown to anyone.
Although members for some time evaded the answer to the financing questions, on May 21, the party leader confessed that businessman Athle Berge was related to the financing.
This businessman should be told in detail, since a number of facts about his biography, as well as his statements and actions look quite odious.
Thus, the 72-year-old owner of concrete production of Ølen betong Berge ranks 179th in the list of the richest people of Norway with a fortune of 2.5 billion crowns (218 million euros).
In the early 2000s, Berge built a Ølen betong company in Russian Murmansk. He also made multimillion -dollar investments in Russia.
Berge states that the Russian « daughter » Ølen betong is completely separated from the Norwegian parent company. He also wrote that most of his time lives in Russia.
He is also known to filed a lawsuit against Norway, who lost. The businessman demanded a multimillion -dollar compensation due to the alleged attempts to recruit staff of a concrete plant in the Murmansk Norwegian special services.
In 2016, Norwegian problems began in Russia. In particular, his They were detained On the Russian border, when he returned from the trip. The border guards gave Berge a document that he was forbidden to enter the country for 10 years. The businessman also talked about the « tough conversation » with the FSB.
It turned out that Russian intelligence services suspected Berge of collecting information in favor of Norway. Norwegian himself explained These are the approaches of competitors: as if « someone paid the FSB » to be sent from the Russian Federation.
However, in 2023, Berge unexpectedly returned to Russia with a new visa and work permit.
And after that, the Norwegian businessman began to praise Russia openly.
In particular, he called « quite normal » business in Russia despite large -scale sanctions. And in May this year Berge He saidthat in Russia he lives « as a graph », although he acknowledged that the support of the aggressor country cost him communication with children.
Meanwhile Norwegian human rights defenders Find outthat Berge funded the Russian orphanage, where they housed the stolen Russian children.
« Hopeless questions. It is clear that you are a huge Russophobe, » – answered He, when he was asked about the export of Ukrainian children from the occupied territories by Russia.
Another scandal around Berge exploded after message About the businessman’s comment in the Facebook group of the Norwegian Volunteer Initiative for the Assistance of Ukraine Ukrainian Freedom Convoys.
In a comment to the post on the transfer of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Berge vehicles wrote: « Many good bombardment goals. » The comment later disappeared, and the businessman answered the questions of journalists that he did not remember writing this, but immediately tried to justify himself, saying that he could bear that a large column of vehicles « could be a very vulnerable target. »
Berge also confirms the funding for for, saying that he has already provided political units of « significant amounts » and is going to continue to finance the party. « It is very important to have a party that carries a message from peace and does not want to spend large amounts of money for war and weapons, » he says.
The second ultrally Kremlin’s attempt
The Kremlin is not trying to spread its propaganda through the Ultral spectrum politicians.
And this is not surprising – the immunity of Europeans to such ideas may be weaker than propaganda from far -right – a traditional source of spreading Russian narratives.
The most famous attempt of this kind (however, now unsuccessful) became the alliance of Sarah Wagenknecht in Germany – And the Norwegian Party for is largely a copy of the Putin’s German « Girlfriend ».
It is also not surprising that the second attempt of this year is happening in Norway.
It is difficult to underestimate the help that Norway provides Ukraine: from F-16 and NASAMS air defense systems to investment in the Ukrainian defense. It is also one of the few countries where Ukraine’s support in the fight against Russian aggression can be called almost unanimous, because all the largest political parties stand for it.
And if the task of « deploy » the external course of Norway is now an unrealistic task for the Kremlin, then the destruction of pro -Ukrainian unity is quite feasible.
After all, the 4 percent election barrier does not seem a significant obstacle to the political force, which has a stable funding and has settled the topic of « struggle for peace » and redirecting funds from assistance to Ukraine for social payments to the Norwegians.
In this context, it is important that
Norway is serious about the possible intervention of the Russian Federation in its elections.
« Foreign entities may try to undermine confidence in the democratic system or influence the outcome indirectly, supporting individual issues, spreading misinformation or enhancing polarization, » the Norwegian Police Security Service said.
« An attempt to force the Norwegians to critically treat the government’s policy on Ukraine will be a clear goal of Russia, » – said the head of the counterintelligence department of the Athleen Tangen Security Police Security Service.
In the end, the emergence of a party with a Russian financial track and a frankly pro -Russian thesis was also concerned about the Government of Norway.
« Investigative bodies have to find out if there are such connections (Russian financing in for. – Ed.). It is worth remembering, because we see how elections in other European countries are taking place, « -said Prime Minister Jonas Gar Star.
Author: Irina Kuutelev,
The « European Truth » journalist
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