---
title: "Discrimination by Passport: Norwegian Institute Norce Found Guilty of Rejecting a Russian Scientist"
description: "🇳🇴 Norwegian institute Norce found guilty of discriminating against a Russian scientist. Despite the candidate being the best qualified, he was rejected twice due to his origin. The commission stated: security does not justify automatic rejections without individual assessment. Norce has already created a security committee and revised hiring rules. #Norway #Discrimination #Russia #Security"
date: 2026-08-18T22:16:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/norce-discrimination-russian-scientist-verdict-en
tags: [norway, discrimination, russia, security, employment, science]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Discrimination by Passport: Norwegian Institute Norce Found Guilty of Rejecting a Russian Scientist

![Norwegian police officers at workstations with documents and computers, illustrating administrative procedures related to the case of discrimination against a Russian scientist in Norway.](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/18/norce-discrimination-russian-scientist-verdict/norce-discrimination-russian-scientist-verdict-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- Norce found guilty of discriminating against a Russian scientist during hiring.
- Rejection was based on a general rule for citizens of "high-risk countries" without individual assessment.
- The Discrimination Ombudsman pointed out a violation of rights due to the lack of personal screening.
- Norce established a security committee and revised hiring procedures.
- Norway is tightening control over Russia but remains an important ally of Ukraine.

### Legal Precedent: Security Does Not Justify Automatic Rejections

In Norway, a significant precedent has emerged in the sphere of labor rights and national security. The research institute Norce (Norwegian Centre for Research on Marine Technology) has been officially found guilty of discrimination. The cause of the legal proceedings was a double rejection of a candidate from Russia, despite his high professional qualifications and Norwegian citizenship. The Discrimination Ombudsman ruled that general security rules cannot serve as justification for rejecting a specific individual without an individual risk assessment.

According to data published by the Norwegian outlet Khrono, the incident began in the spring of 2023. The scientist, who had lived in Norway for several years and held a doctorate from a local university, was deemed the best candidate for a postdoc position by the hiring committee. However, the institute's leadership blocked the appointment just three days before the contract signing. The sole reason was the candidate's nationality — leadership cited the practice of not hiring citizens from "high-risk countries," which included Russia, China, and Iran.

### Lack of Individual Assessment: The Leadership's Key Error

The situation was exacerbated by the fact that the man, who had become a Norwegian citizen, reapplied for the same position. He underwent an interview with the company's security specialist but received a rejection again. The Discrimination Ombudsman pointed out a crucial nuance in their ruling: concern for security is indeed a legal ground for restrictions, especially when it comes to protecting sensitive scientific data or infrastructure of national importance.

However, the problem lay in the decision-making method. Norce acted based on a general rule applicable to an entire category of people by origin, rather than on a specific assessment of this particular candidate. The leadership did not have detailed information about family ties or specific risks associated with this individual. The lack of individual screening was termed "worthy of criticism" by the commission and recognized as a violation of the candidate's rights.

### Institute Reaction and Changes in Hiring Procedures

Norce lawyer Helge Tennebø stated that the institution never intended to discriminate against anyone, but rather tried to balance security and non-discrimination during a complex geopolitical period. According to him, the company respects the commission's decision and will use it as a guide to improve hiring procedures.

In response to the commission's decision and in connection with the extension of the Security Act to Norce in 2026, the company established a separate security committee. Tennebø confirmed that the general rule of rejecting candidates from high-risk countries no longer exists at Norce — each case is now considered individually. This has become an important step towards harmonizing security requirements and principles of equality.

### Context: Norway and Russia Amidst Tensions

The commission's decision fits into the broader context of Norway strengthening its control over the situation related to Russia. In July 2026, debris, presumably from a Russian rocket, was discovered off the country's coast — a local fisherman and photographer stumbled upon the unusual find in the Barents Sea. This event once again highlighted security issues in the region.

Nevertheless, Norway remains one of Ukraine's important allies. The country has already invested over $100 million in maritime drones for the Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU) and previously allocated 2.8 billion kroner for the purchase of American weaponry through the PURL program. The total volume of Norwegian funding for weapons for Ukraine under this program has reached significant scales, underscoring the country's position in supporting Ukraine amidst the ongoing conflict.

### Contradictory Data

There is a certain discrepancy in the interpretation of the motives behind Norce leadership's actions. On one hand, the Discrimination Ombudsman pointed to the lack of individual assessment as a violation of rights. On the other hand, the institute's lawyer asserts that the company acted within the recommendations of national security authorities, attempting to minimize risks. This creates a contradiction between formal compliance with security rules and the actual application of these rules to specific individuals.

Furthermore, there is an inconsistency in dates: the incident occurred in the spring of 2023, but the commission's decision was made significantly later, which may indicate the length of the complaint review process. This may also testify to the complexity of balancing security and human rights under current geopolitical conditions.

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: Why did Norce reject the Russian scientist?
**A:** Norce leadership cited the practice of not hiring citizens from "high-risk countries," including Russia, without conducting an individual risk assessment.

### Q: What did the Discrimination Ombudsman decide?
**A:** The commission found Norce guilty of discrimination, stating that security does not justify automatic rejections without personal screening.

### Q: Have the hiring rules at Norce changed?
**A:** Yes, Norce established a security committee and abolished the general rule of rejecting candidates from high-risk countries — now each case is considered individually.

### Q: How does this relate to the situation between Norway and Russia?
**A:** Norway is tightening control over Russia but remains an important ally of Ukraine, investing in its defense and supporting security in the region.