Norway creates new budget post supporting human rights and independent media in Russia
“This support demonstrates our commitment to democratic values. Norway, together with other countries, give support to maintain a civil society in and outside Russia, which fights for democracy and human rights,” says foreign minister Espen Barth Eide.
Norwegian state budget for 2025 was presented on Monday.
A new post of 33,6 million (€2,88 million) is earmarked to support Russian human rights groups, civil society and independent media.
Norway, neighbouring Russia in the north, has since the early 1990ties provided funding to cross-border NGOs and others working for democratic values. That work started to be challenged after Vladimir Putin entered his third term in the Kremlin in 2012.
New laws branding non-governmental organisations as 'foreign agents' and increased FSB pressure on media came as a dark shadow from a Soviet past. Contacts across borders among civil society groups and journalists have since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 been nearly non-existent.
The new budget post will consequently support those working outside Russia.
Espen Barth Eide says it is in Norway’s own national interest to maintain and develop expertise on the situation in Russia.
“We do not choose our geography. Russia is our neighbour and we will always need expertise about Russia in order to manage our neighbourhood in a good way.”
The Norwegian government says that although Russia is a authoritarian state with totalitarian tendencies, there are still groups working for human rights and democracy.
