Out of respect for the neighboring country.. Norway: It is forbidden to urinate on the border with Russia!
A new sign placed by unknown persons near the Norwegian-Russian border reminds that tourists are prohibited from urinating towards Russia, under penalty of large fines.
A law in Norway forbids “abusive behavior at the border towards the neighboring country concerned or its authorities.”
The sign, written in English, on the bank of a river separating Norway and Russia, calls for “Not to urinate in the direction of Russia.” It was placed alongside another sign for the official authorities stating that the place is subject to surveillance cameras and protection from the Norwegian border guards.
"The sign was probably placed by people with good intentions to warn people passing through the area of abusive behavior," said Jens-Arne Hoylund, the Norwegian commissioner in charge of border guards, confirming information provided by the Barents Observer website, which published a picture of the sign.
Violators face a fine of up to three thousand crowns (about 350 dollars).
This area, located on the bank of the Yakobsylva River, from where the Russian side can be seen, is very popular.
Hoylund explained that "urination in nature is not in itself offensive, but the issue here is based on a point of view and falls within the framework of the law that prohibits abusive behavior patterns at the borders."
Hoylund, whose duties are to ensure respect for the agreements that sponsor neighboring relations between Russia and Norway, revealed that the Russian authorities have never complained about such actions.
However, the Barents Observer reported that four years ago, four people were arrested by Norwegian border guards for throwing stones at Russia, while a woman was photographed by the cameras passing her left hand across the border with a fine of 8,000 kronor.
Norway overlooks the northern border of NATO with Russia, which extends over 197.7 kilometers in the Arctic.
The two countries have good relations, but they deteriorated somewhat following Russia's unilateral annexation of Ukraine's Crimea in 2014.
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