politics
Police Monitor Kirkenes War Memorial of Soviet Soldier
The Finnmark Police are setting up temporary CCTV surveillance at the liberation monument in border town Kirkenes to avoid a repeat of disorder and offences.
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On 8 and 9 May, annual commemorations and wreath-laying ceremonies are held at the Liberation Monument in Kirkenes in memory of the end of the Second World War and those who fell during it.
The town of Kirkenes lies close to the Russian border in the Norwegian Arctic. The border town has had a strong cultural and historical connection with Russia, and this has characterizes everyday life through multilingual signs, Russian influence and a significant number of residents with a Russian background.
Based on disruptions and conflict that arose after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, the Finnmark Police report that they will this year use temporary camera surveillance near and at the monument.
"The camera surveillance is carried out in accordance with section 6A of the Police Act and is justified by the need to maintain public peace and security and to prevent violations," the police write.
The Liberation Monument, commonly called the «Russian Monument», is a national war memorial in Kirkenes.
It was erected as a Norwegian-Soviet monument to honour the Red Army's contribution to the liberation of Eastern Finnmark in October 1944, after more than four years of German occupation during the Second World War
Last year, flowers were kicked around at the Liberation Monument, and in previous years disturbances have also occurred in connection with the commemoration.
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