Thomas Nilsen

Moscow confirms test trials of nuclear-powered doomsday torpedo

Putin bragged about its existence in March, and now, few days after talking nuclear arms control with Trump, a real version appears in a Defense Ministry video.
July 22, 2018

Norwegian editor dies in Lapland gyrocopter crash

The deceased is Morten Ruud (57), editor of Norwegian public radio’s regional broadcaster in Finnmark.
July 22, 2018

“Yamal LNG among the most competitive projects globally”

First two tankers with liquid natural gas from Russian Arctic via the Northern Sea Route arrives in China.
July 21, 2018

Forest fire spreads across border from Russia to Lapland

The wildfire crossed the border on the night between Friday and Saturday at Raja-Jooseppi in Inari.
July 21, 2018

1 in 10 Russians want to emigrate, Julia choose Norway

8,200 Russians have got Norwegian citizenship since the breakup of the Soviet Union, show figures compiled by the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration for the Barents Observer.
July 19, 2018

Nordavia cancelled all flights to Oslo

Nobody wanted to buy tickets on what was supposed to be the first direct flight from Murmansk.
July 19, 2018

Finnmark heat record, 33,3 °C

Red-hot Barents Region: Record-breaking heat at several locations in northernmost Norway, Finland and Russia Wednesday evening.
July 18, 2018

Two more months behind bars for Frode Berg

Still not clear when FSB wants to bring the spy case in for court.
July 18, 2018

Polar bears in eastern Barents Sea have most chemical pollutants

Polar bears following the sea-ice in hunt for seals have 30-35% higher concentration of perfluoroalkyl substances compared to coastal bears and levels are higher further east than the Svalbard area.
July 16, 2018

European Parliament Committee wants tougher tone against Norway over Svalbard snow crab conflict

The dispute steps up as the Committee on Fisheries says the European Commission’s diplomatic efforts in tackling the issue with Norwegian authorities have not been resolute enough.
July 16, 2018

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Thomas Nilsen is editor of the Independent Barents Observer with its news desk located in Kirkenes, northern Norway. He has a long experience in media cooperation across the borders in the high north of Europe, both as radio- and newspaper reporter all the way back to the days before the breakup of the Soviet Union. 

Nilsen has been editor of Barents Observer since 2009.

He was Deputy Head of the Norwegian Barents Secretariat from 2004-2009. Until 2003, he worked 12 years for the Bellona Foundation’s Russian study group, focusing on nuclear safety issues and general environmental challenges in northern areas and the Arctic. 

Thomas has been traveling extensively across northern Scandinavia and Arctic Russia since the late 80’s working for different media and organizations. He is also a guide at sea and in remote locations in the Russian north for various groups and regularly lectures on security issues, environmental and socio-economic development.

Thomas Nilsen studied at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.

Mobile: +47-90573143

thomas@thebarentsobserver.com
@nilsen.thomas