Presidential candidates Svein Atle Somby (center) and Vibeke Larsen (right) belong to the minority that opposes special treatment of asylum applications from Russian Sámi. Sámi Parliament President Silje Karine Muotka (left) has the support of a majority backing the demand for a special procedure.
Statement from the Editorial Board of Indigenous Russia
We encountered an unexpected situation. On the morning of April 5, NRK Sápmi published an article titled “Politicians in the Sámi Parliament are divided on the issue of Sámi asylum seekers from Russia.” In accordance with our editorial policy of covering key developments related to the rights of Indigenous Peoples in Russia, we republished this article on the Indigenous Russia website.
However, later that same day, the article on NRK Sápmi was updated with the following note: “Artikkelen er oppdatert med riktig informasjon om Sp sitt standpunkt i saken!” (“The article has been updated with correct information regarding the Centre Party’s (Sp) position on the matter.”)
In response, the editorial team of Indigenous Russia decided to publish the updated version of the article (see below), while also preserving the original version to ensure transparency. We believe it is important to provide our readers with the opportunity to independently assess such a sensitive issue as the rights of political refugees from Indigenous communities.
Sincerely, the Editorial Team of Indigenous Russia
The article has been updated to include the corrected position of the Centre Party (Sp) on this issue.
The Sámi Parliamentary Council (SPR) recently called for Russian Sámi to receive special consideration in the asylum systems of the Nordic countries.
SPR is a cooperative body uniting the Sámi parliaments of Finland, Norway, and Sweden. The Council’s decision was unanimous. It includes two representatives from each country. Norway is represented by two members of the Norwegian Sámi Association (NSR).
Not on the basis of ethnicity
This issue has not yet been formally discussed in the Sámi parliaments of Norway, Sweden, or Finland. However, according to NRK, there is only a slim and fragile majority in the Norwegian Sámi Parliament supporting the SPR’s position.
The presidential candidates from the two largest opposition parties in the Sámi Parliament — Nordkalottfolket and the Labour Party (Ap) — have clearly stated their opposition to granting special treatment to Sámi asylum seekers from Russia.
“All refugees deserve to be treated fairly. That’s why I don’t see any reason for Sámi asylum seekers to receive special treatment,” said Vibeke Larsen, the presidential candidate from Nordkalottfolket.
Her position is shared by the Labour Party’s candidate, Svein Atle Somby: “If Russian citizens have been persecuted or threatened, they can apply for asylum in Norway — regardless of whether or not they are Sámi,” he said.
The sole representative of the Progress Party (Frp) in the Sámi Parliament is also skeptical of the idea.
23 in favor, 16 against
The current President of the Sámi Parliament, Silje Karine Muotka (NSR), also serves as President of the SPR. She has firmly backed the proposal:
“The Sámi are one people. Sápmi is our homeland, regardless of national borders. We, the Sámi, did not participate in drawing these borders,” she emphasized.
She is supported by the Sámi People’s Party (SfP), which holds two seats. Its leader, Birger Nymo, stated: “Of course, our brothers and sisters on the Russian side should be allowed to come here — especially if their asylum applications receive special consideration.”
The same position is held by Flyttsamelista (FsL), NSR’s coalition partner in the Sámi Parliament: “We haven’t yet discussed this matter within the party or included it in our platform. But it seems only natural to support the SPR’s demand. After all, we are one people living across four countries,” said Berit Marie P. E. Eira.
The Centre Party (Sp), another coalition partner, also expressed agreement with NSR and the SPR Council. It holds three seats in the Sámi Parliament.
The final count: 23 representatives in favor, 16 opposed.
Support from Sámi media
The editor-in-chief of the Sámi newspaper Ságat, Geir Wulff, has also voiced his support for the majority position in the Sámi Parliament.
“The Sámi on the Russian side didn’t choose to live in Russia. It’s the result of how state borders were drawn,” he explained.
In an editorial, Wulff wrote: “This is an entirely reasonable and self-evident demand. If Norway, Finland, and Sweden fail to take responsibility for Indigenous Peoples forced to flee from Russian to Nordic Sápmi, they are no better than Putin’s Russia.”
Source: NRK Sápmi