Norway sends a clear message to Afghan migrants in Russia. Crossing the border at Storskog can give

Last week, the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration sent a tweet warning that single Afghan men that have had legal papers to stay in Russia, risk being sent back to Afghanistan if seeking asylum in Norway.

Over the last week, the vast majority of asylum-seekers bicycling over the border from Russia’s Kola Peninsula to Storskog checkpoint near Kirkenes are Afghans.

So far, none of them have been sent back to Afghanistan.

Returning to Russia became more difficult as a growing number of the migrants coming from Moscow via Murmansk to Norway got their resident permits for Russia cancelled, many even expelled.

In an interview with VG on Saturday, the Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg a quick processing of cases with a direct return to Kabul would send a clear signal.

“It will send a clear signal if these cases are handled quick so that those who should not stay will be returned. For instance, we do return single Afghan men by sending them to Kabul,” Solberg says.