Norwegian Support Committee for Chechnya
Encyclopedia
The Norwegian Support Committee for Chechnya is a Norwegian advocacy group
.
, its purpose is to "work for immediate, total and unconditional withdrawal of all Russia
n military forces [from Chechnya
] and for the right of the Chechen people
to autonomy". In addition it works to spread information about the situation in Chechnya, to help organize developmental support within Chechnya, and to assist Chechen refugees in Norway and other countries.
Its board of directors are chaired by Hilde Jørgensen. Members of the board include former national legislator Ingvald Godal
and the Norwegian PEN
chairman Kjell Olaf Jensen.
in October 2002, Ingvald Godal said of the terrorists that "I understand their action, even though I do not defend it". He later claimed that he failedly attempted to enlist Norway as a negotiator during the crisis. In November the same year, ahead of a state visit
by Vladimir Putin
in Norway, Ingvald Godal filed a prosecution request to the Police of Norway. He also suggested that the Prime Minister of Norway
take initiative to an international criminal tribunal for Chechnya. The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
replied that a police prosecution of a foreign head of state is not possible, and rebuffed the latter proposal. During Putin's visit, the committee held a demonstration together with Amnesty International
, the Norwegian Helsinki Committee for Human Rights
and Norwegian Church Aid
. The committee has engaged in other peaceful protests, such as a 2007 memorial of Anna Politkovskaya
in cooperation with the Helsinki Committee, the Norwegian PEN, the Human Rights House
, the Norwegian Union of Journalists
and Nobel Peace Center
.
In 2004 the committee and the Socialist Left Party of Norway
invited Ahmed Zakayev, an accused terrorist exiled in the United Kingdom, to visit Norway. The Norwegian ambassador to Russia Øyvind Nordsletten
received a letter from the Solicitor General of Russia, who called the visit "blasphemous" and demanded extradition
. Another visit to Norway by Zakayev followed in December 2004. As a result, counsellor Paul G. Larsen at the Embassy of Norway in Moscow
was summoned to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in what journalist Carsten Thomassen
described as a "forceful diplomatic reaction".
Advocacy group
Advocacy groups use various forms of advocacy to influence public opinion and/or policy; they have played and continue to play an important part in the development of political and social systems...
.
Organization
Non-partisanPolitical party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
, its purpose is to "work for immediate, total and unconditional withdrawal of all Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n military forces [from Chechnya
Chechnya
The Chechen Republic , commonly referred to as Chechnya , also spelled Chechnia or Chechenia, sometimes referred to as Ichkeria , is a federal subject of Russia . It is located in the southeastern part of Europe in the Northern Caucasus mountains. The capital of the republic is the city of Grozny...
Chechen people
Chechens constitute the largest native ethnic group originating in the North Caucasus region. They refer to themselves as Noxçi . Also known as Sadiks , Gargareans, Malkhs...
to autonomy". In addition it works to spread information about the situation in Chechnya, to help organize developmental support within Chechnya, and to assist Chechen refugees in Norway and other countries.
Its board of directors are chaired by Hilde Jørgensen. Members of the board include former national legislator Ingvald Godal
Ingvald Godal
Ingvald Godal is a Norwegian politician for the Centre Party and later the Conservative Party. For the former party he was a State Secretary as well as mayor of Vinje; for the latter party he served four terms in the Norwegian Parliament...
and the Norwegian PEN
International PEN
PEN International , the worldwide association of writers, was founded in London in 1921 to promote friendship and intellectual co-operation among writers everywhere....
chairman Kjell Olaf Jensen.
Attention
The committee has played a somewhat controversial role in Norwegian politics. Following the Moscow theater hostage crisisMoscow theater hostage crisis
The Moscow theater hostage crisis, also known as the 2002 Nord-Ost siege, was the seizure of the crowded Dubrovka Theater on 23 October 2002 by some 40 to 50 armed Chechens who claimed allegiance to the Islamist militant separatist movement in Chechnya. They took 850 hostages and demanded the...
in October 2002, Ingvald Godal said of the terrorists that "I understand their action, even though I do not defend it". He later claimed that he failedly attempted to enlist Norway as a negotiator during the crisis. In November the same year, ahead of a state visit
State visit
A state visit is a formal visit by a foreign head of state to another nation, at the invitation of that nation's head of state. State visits are the highest form of diplomatic contact between two nations, and are marked by ceremonial pomp and diplomatic protocol. In parliamentary democracies, heads...
by Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin served as the second President of the Russian Federation and is the current Prime Minister of Russia, as well as chairman of United Russia and Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Union of Russia and Belarus. He became acting President on 31 December 1999, when...
in Norway, Ingvald Godal filed a prosecution request to the Police of Norway. He also suggested that the Prime Minister of Norway
Prime Minister of Norway
The Prime Minister of Norway is the political leader of Norway and the Head of His Majesty's Government. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Stortinget , to their political party, and ultimately the...
take initiative to an international criminal tribunal for Chechnya. The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the foreign ministry of the Kingdom of Norway...
replied that a police prosecution of a foreign head of state is not possible, and rebuffed the latter proposal. During Putin's visit, the committee held a demonstration together with Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
, the Norwegian Helsinki Committee for Human Rights
Helsinki Committee for Human Rights
The Helsinki Committees for Human Rights exist in many European countries as volunteer, non-profit organizations devoted to human rights and presumably named after the Helsinki Accords...
and Norwegian Church Aid
Norwegian Church Aid
Norwegian Church Aid , "Kirkens Nødhjelp" in Norwegian, is an independent humanitarian and ecumenical organisation with headquarters in Oslo, Norway. The organisation also has offices in 65 countries worldwide and receives funding from the Norwegian Protestant church, their institutions and...
. The committee has engaged in other peaceful protests, such as a 2007 memorial of Anna Politkovskaya
Anna Politkovskaya
Anna Stepanovna Politkovskaya was a Russian journalist, author, and human rights activist known for her opposition to the Chechen conflict and then-President of Russia Vladimir Putin...
in cooperation with the Helsinki Committee, the Norwegian PEN, the Human Rights House
Human Rights House of Bergen
Human Rights House is based in Bergen, Norway. The Human Right House was established in memory of Thorolf Rafto’s son, Egil Rafto and officially was opened in 1999 by Aung San Suu Kyis youngest son, Kim Aris...
, the Norwegian Union of Journalists
Norwegian Union of Journalists
The Norwegian Union of Journalists is a trade union in Norway. It consists of editorial personnel in newspapers, magazines, television and radio, as well as freelance journalists....
and Nobel Peace Center
Nobel Peace Center
Nobel Peace Center is a showcase for the Nobel Peace Prize and the ideals it represents. The Center is also an arena where culture and politics merge to promote involvement, debate and reflection around topics such as war, peace and conflict resolution....
.
In 2004 the committee and the Socialist Left Party of Norway
Socialist Left Party (Norway)
The Socialist Left Party or SV, is a Norwegian left-wing political party. At one point one of the smallest parties in Parliament, it became the fourth-largest political party in Norway for the first time in the 2001 parliamentary election, and has been so ever since...
invited Ahmed Zakayev, an accused terrorist exiled in the United Kingdom, to visit Norway. The Norwegian ambassador to Russia Øyvind Nordsletten
Øyvind Nordsletten
Øyvind Nordsletten is a Norwegian diplomat.He was born in Time. He started working for the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1974...
received a letter from the Solicitor General of Russia, who called the visit "blasphemous" and demanded extradition
Extradition
Extradition is the official process whereby one nation or state surrenders a suspected or convicted criminal to another nation or state. Between nation states, extradition is regulated by treaties...
. Another visit to Norway by Zakayev followed in December 2004. As a result, counsellor Paul G. Larsen at the Embassy of Norway in Moscow
Embassy of Norway in Moscow
The Embassy of the Kingdom of Norway in Moscow is the chief diplomatic mission of Norway in the Russian Federation. It is located at 7 Povarskaya Street in the Arbat district of Moscow.- See also :* Norway–Russia relations* Diplomatic missions in Russia...
was summoned to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in what journalist Carsten Thomassen
Carsten Thomassen
Carsten Thomassen is a Danish mathematician. He has been a Professor of Mathematics at the Technical University of Denmark since 1981, and since 1990 a member of the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters. His research concerns discrete mathematics and more specifically graph...
described as a "forceful diplomatic reaction".