Staalesen reports in The Barents Observer that in 2002, he founded the newspaper and was editor until 2009. He took part in its reestablishment as an independent and non-profit stock company in 2015 and is today one of two owners. Staalesen has a degree in Russian studies from the University of Oslo and studied journalism at the Moscow State University.
Wide stretches of land along Arctic coasts, sparse populations in the remotest parts of the continent. The Barents region and the Arctic are among the most quiet edges of the world. But behind the beauty and innocence of the landscapes is an area of troubling change. This is a "Territory of Dialogue", the Russian Government highlights in its bi-annual Arctic conferences attended by President Putin and the top brass of the country’s political and economic elite. But the actual situation shows that the Arctic is today not a region with smooth and easy talking between nations. There is less dialogue across the borders with Scandinavia.
Divides in the fundamental construction of societies are growing. Russian state-building is increasingly at odds with the value systems of European neighbors. Proponents of human rights, freedom of speech and press freedom are under pressure and advanced state-sponsored disinformation efforts are seeping into the consciousness of people not only in Russia, but also across the borders to neighboring Scandinavia.
The Barents Observer is itself an example of repressive policies supported by Russian authorities. As the author shows in this report, the actions aimed against the small newspaper based in Kirkenes, Norway, is illustrative for current developments in Russia and cross-border relations in the Barents region. It is a time of growing pressure against free and independent media. It has come to the North, and regional journalists are increasingly feeling the chill.
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