Thomas Nilsen

Military attachés from 'friendly' countries embarked nuclear submarines

The number of military attaches attending the Russian Defense Ministry’s excursion to the Northern Fleet headquarters in Severomorsk continue to decrease. This year, the delegation included 60 diplomats from 42 countries.
May 24, 2024

Norway closes border for Russians tourists and shoppers

End comes to the last open land-border to Schengen-Europe for Russian citizens traveling on leisure and non-essential travel.
May 23, 2024

This is how an agent from Murmansk built a network in Northern Norway

Sergei Goncharov and the Russian Geographical Society over several years cultivated a web of partners in neighbouring Norway. Today, he is unwilling to answer questions about covert recruitment of spies and mapping of Russian exiles in Norway.
May 20, 2024

"We will continue to work whatever they call us," assures SOTA editor after declared 'undesirable'

"I consider this label repressive. But I can say for sure that we will continue to work, whatever they call us," says Daria Poryadina, editor of the exile-Russian news outlet SOTA.
May 17, 2024

Military conscription office attacked with Molotov cocktail

In Russia, Molotov cocktails continue to be thrown at military recruitment offices. This weekend in the town of Suojarvi in Karelia, some 80 km from the border with Finland.
May 13, 2024

Last private land on Svalbard up for sale for €300 million

With 60 square kilometers, about the size of Manhattan, and a coastline of five kilometers, the unique faraway property on Svalbard is a geopolitical hotspot in a warming Arctic.
May 12, 2024

University terminates contract with Lassi Heininen over Moscow visit

Professor emeritus Lassi Heininen was dismissed from his contract with the University of Lapland in Rovaniemi after it became known that he went to Moscow for the Far East, Arctic Conference 2024.
May 11, 2024

Russian diplomats mark Victory Day without any Norwegian officials

"How does it feel to mark Victory Day as you know your country is attacking a neighboring peaceful country in Europe with cruise missiles?" - The Barents Observer asked the Russian General Consul in Kirkenes.
May 09, 2024

Sámi Siida in Inari awarded 2024 European Museum of the Year

The award committee praised the recently renewed museum for its creativity, ethical conservation practices and fostering of cultural dialogue.
May 08, 2024

Swedish police rules out sabotage angle in derailing accidents

No one with bad intentions were involved when the empty iron ore train heading back to Kiruna from Narvik derailed in late February.
May 08, 2024

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Thomas Nilsen is editor of the Barents Observer. 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 Russia and the Arctic. 

Thomas has been traveling extensively across northern Scandinavia and Arctic Russia since the late 80’s working for different media and NGOs. He has also been a guide at sea and in remote locations in the Russian north for various groups and regularly lectures on security, environment and Russia’s repressive influence operations.

In 2017, FSB declared Thomas Nilsen persona non grata (PNG) and since 2019 the censorship agency Roscomnadzor has attempted to block the Barents Observer from the Russian internet.

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

Mobile: +47-90573143

thomas@thebarentsobserver.com
@nilsen.thomas