Borders
FSB says the four are citizens of Morocco.
“Absolutely something to consider,” says Per-Willy Amundsen after visiting the undersized and cramped facilities at Storskog.
It is not unrealistic, nor naive, to imagine the introduction of visa-free travel between Norway and Russia, regional leaders in Finnmark, the northernmost Norwegian region, argue.
If cross-border traffic can indicate which way the wind is blowing for Norwegian-Russian relations this is good news.
Here comes the new bridge to cross the mouth of the Pasvik river on Europe’s northernmost cross-border highway to Russia.
Armed FSB Border Guards from Murmansk were exercising in extreme cold in four days on top of planet earth.
In 2013, Nordic consular stations issued more than 1,5 million visas to Russians. Three years later, the number had plummeted to less than 500 thousand. Now, the trend bounces back, new figures show.
Two groups of people aimed for Scandinavia, but were stopped by the FSB.
Interior Minister Paula Risikko says border guards should be given expanded powers to act if national security threatened.
"I don't think there are any cities we have more contact with than Murmansk," says Kirkenes Mayor Rune Rafaelsen.
Three Moroccan citizens made it to Alakurtti, but no longer.
Siste/ mest lest
Raja-Joosepi and Salla checkpoints saw a decline in border-crossings of 12% and 14% in 2016.
After two years of decline, traffic across the Norwegian-Russian border is again on the increase.
November traffic is up 7,2% and it is Norwegians that counts for the increase.
Villagers in Neiden, the Norwegian settlement located near the border to Russia, become part of a successful regime on facilitated cross-border traveling.
The security service detains and charges migrants as they attempt illegal border crossing to Norway and Finland.
In times of political tensions between Oslo and Moscow is normal citizens’ travel across the border in the high north sharply up.
10 percent increase at Storskog, while Raja-Joosepi and Salla still see a decline in cross-border traffic.
Already from next year, you might have to pay toll when you cross the border to Russia. The money is needed for upgrades of border infrastructure, Moscow says.
Two very different views on what happened at a joint Norwegian, Russian Border Guards meeting in Kirkenes.
Up to 50 meters of Norway’s new security fence could be teared down and rebuilt.
Migrant crisis
“We upgrade the security at Storskog checkpoint to be better prepared for controlling who enters the country,” says Minister of Justice and Public Security Anders Anundsen.
Finnish border guards have broken up a ring of international human traffickers who smuggled people into the country from Russia.
Finland’s Border Guard has to cut spending and considers limiting opening hours at Raja-Jooseppi and Salla.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Ilya Subbotin visits Murmansk ahead of the new round of Kolarctic projects.
Barents Cooperation
Top politicians and officials from the Barents region agree that infrastructure and communications between Russia and the Nordic countries must be improved.
Ever wanted to have a black Volga? On Friday and Saturday Finland’s Customs auctions away 128 of the cars used by asylum seekers to enter Lapland from Russia’s Kola Peninsula.
This helps us bolster security along our Arctic frontiers, regional leaders of the FSB say as they open a new border guard office in Sabetta.
Don’t throw the first stone. Norwegian military border guards and police acted properly.
Almost half the population of Kirkenes can cross the border to Russia without a visa.
Official document indicates that Moscow is preparing the reintroduction of traveling restrictions in the borderlands to Norway and Finland.
A new border restriction has been in force for 10 days at Finland’s two Lapland border crossings on the Russian border in a bilateral agreement to clamp down on illegal migration.
Inside this motorcade crossing the border at Storskog Thursday morning is Army General Vladimir Kulishov, one of President Vladimir Putin’s top security officials.
Tight security: Storskog border checkpoint was closed for other travelers the few minutes it took for the FSB delegation to cross the border. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Delegation members enter the cars at Storskog. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
General Vladimir Kulishov and Police Commissioner Odd Reidar Humlegård at Storskog. Photo: Atle Staalesen
Motorcade with the Russian FSB delegation drove out from Storskog border checkpoint a few minutes before 9 am Thursday morning. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
First Deputy Head of FSB and Head of FSB Borger Guard Service, General Vladimir Kulishov and Norway’s National Police Commissioner Odd Reidar Humlegård coulld be seen in the back seat of this civilian police cars as the motorcade drove out from Storskog checkpoint. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Tight security around Storskog border checkpoint and Sollia Guest House Thursday morning. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
Photo: Atle Staalesen
Motorcade with five cars exiting Storskog customs area. Photo: Atle Staalesen
First Deputy Head of FSB and Head of FSB Borger Guard Service, General Vladimir Kulishov and Norway’s National Police Commissioner Odd Reidar Humlegård on their way out of the Storskog border crossing point. Photo: Atle Staalesen
A delegation of Norwegian and Russian top security officials on their way out of Storskog border crossing point. Photo: Atle Staalesen
Tight security at Sollia Guest Hourse, the meeting venue. Photo: Atle Staalesen