Atle Staalesen

The Nordsletten connection: Arctic oil, family affairs and a link to the FSB

Amid war and international sanctions, Norwegian businessman Gunnar Nordsletten continues to develop his corporate interests in Putin's Russia. According to a journalistic investigation, he is closely cooperating with Andrei Patrushev, a member of Russia's most powerful FSB family.
February 06, 2024

Norway owns a part of Putin's propaganda and censorship machine

The value of the shares owned by the Norwegian Oil Fund has dwindled to less than 5 percent of their former level. But the Norwegians still own shares in 52 Russian companies, among them several leading tech and communications companies.
February 02, 2024

"It's a holy war." The priest from Sputnik now fights with a gun

The 61st Naval Infantry Brigade is believed to have several hundred warriors fighting in Ukraine. Among them is now also the brigade's priest, Sergei Cherichenko.
January 31, 2024

Russia says its new submarine is ultra-silent

The diesel-engined Kronshtadt is designed for destruction of enemy ships and infrastructure, and is likely to serve in the Northern Fleet.
January 31, 2024

Lukashenko wants access to Russian Arctic seaports

The ruler in Minsk intends to make the north Russian ports of Murmansk and Arkhangelsk a part of his union state deal with Moscow.
January 30, 2024

Will Russia revive infamous SMERSH counter-intelligence in Kola Peninsula?

The structure established by Josef Stalin to fight "anti-Soviet elements" is today praised by the security agencies in the heavily militarised Murmansk region. Strong forces in Russia call for the resurrection of the notorious service across the whole country.
January 28, 2024

School kids in Severomorsk-3 salute another killed warrior

Aleksei Kosteev himself studied at the local School No 8 before he enrolled in the naval infantry, fought in Syria and was killed on the battlefield in Ukraine.
January 24, 2024

Two heavy lift carriers loaded with LNG plant modules start 6,000 km midwinter odyssey towards Murmansk

The Pugnax and Audax are making it through the thick sea-ice of the Northern Sea Route on their way from China to the Kola Bay.
January 24, 2024

Terror haunts Suez Canal. Moscow wants shippers to look to its far northern route

But international shipping companies shun the remote and icy waters along Russia's increasingly militarised Arctic coast. Figures from 2023 show that shipments lag far behind the Kremlin's targets.
January 23, 2024

Counting of killed Komi warriors reaches 400

It is unknown how many soldiers from the north Russian region that actually have lost their lives in the war, but a local count now reaches four hundred.
January 17, 2024

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Atle is journalist and Publisher of the Independent Barents Observer.

In 2002, he founded the Barents Observer. He was editor until 2009 and later worked as journalist and project coordinator for several European cross-border cooperation projects. In late 2015, following a conflict over editorial rights, he re-established the Barents Observer as an independent and non-profit stock company along with the rest of the newspaper crew.  

Atle has a degree in Russian studies from the University of Oslo and studied journalism at the Moscow State University.

atle@thebarentsobserver.com
@atlestaalesen