Thomas Nilsen

Ahead of election campaign, Russian Embassy condemns presence of U.S. Marines in Norway

Norway is not fully a predictable partner and the situation in the north can be destabilized, Russia’s Embassy in Oslo slashes out against the Norwegian Government.
June 26, 2017

Youth eco-group calls the 93 new Arctic oil blocks «madness»

«A betrayal of the youngsters», says Head of Nature and Youth, Ingrid Skjoldvær, about the Norwegian Government’s decision to offer a record number of blocks in the Barents Sea.
June 21, 2017

Plans take shape for lifting dumped nuclear sub

K-27 was dumped east of Novaya Zemlya in the Russian Arctic in 1982.
June 20, 2017

Norwegian journalists skip Brende’s visit to nuclear dump

FSB allows Russian journalists to bring cameras, but Norwegians would only be allowed to bring pen and paper.
June 20, 2017

Sámi concerned about Arctic railway plans

Tiina Sanila-Aikio says no Sámi people have been invited to discuss the new Rovaniemi-Kirkenes railway that will run straight through their traditional reindeer herding areas.
June 19, 2017

Government eases rules for tourist king crab catching

King Crab safari in Norway's northern waters is a fantastic tourist experience, says Prime Minister Erna Solberg.
June 13, 2017

Umeå paves the way for green electric bus revolution

This northern Swedish City’s fleet of battery powered busses for public transport works perfectly well in cold climate.
June 13, 2017

Four arrested in attempt to illegal cross border to Norway

FSB says the four are citizens of Morocco.
June 11, 2017

Closed and silent at Norwegian business pioneer in Murmansk

Unclear what will happen at the former busy facilities of Reinertsen Northwest Russia.
June 09, 2017

Fewer, but bigger cruise ships sail north

Cruise ships will make 360 port calls to Northern Norway and Svalbard this season bringing in some 100,000 passengers.
June 07, 2017

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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