PageSourceSearch

https://www.thebarentsobserver.com/about-us

html thebarentsobserver.com collected 2026-09-24 07:20:32 UTC 69,078 bytes, 1,125 lines download raw bytes

1<!DOCTYPE html>
2<html lang="en-GB" dir="ltr" class="resp_fonts" data-hostpath="about-us">
3    <head>
4
5                <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">
6                
7                
7<script>
8                    window.labClientAPIReady = new Promise(function (resolve) {
9                        document.addEventListener(
10                            'labClientAPIReady',
11                            function () { resolve(window.labClientAPI); },
12                            { once: true }
13                        );
14                    });
15                </script>
15
16                
16<script type="module">
17                    import { ClientAPI } from '/view-resources/baseview/public/common/ClientAPI/index.js?v=1789115892-L4';
18                    window.labClientAPI = new ClientAPI({
19                        pageData: {
20                            url: 'https://www.thebarentsobserver.com/about-us',
21                            pageType: 'front',
22                            pageId: '100548',
23                            section: '',
24                            subsection: '',
25                            title: '',
26                            seotitle: 'About us - thebarentsobserver',
27                            sometitle: 'about us - thebarentsobserver',
28                            description: '',
29                            seodescription: '',
30                            somedescription: '',
31                            device: 'desktop',
32                            cms: 'labrador',
33                            cmsVersion: '4.2.22',
34                            contentLanguage: 'en-GB',
35                            published: '',
36                            modified: '2026-09-22 14:02:54',
37                            
38                            
39                            tags: [],
40                            bylines: [],
41                            site: {
42                                domain: 'https://www.thebarentsobserver.com',
43                                id: '2',
44                                alias: 'thebarentsobserver',
45                                name: 'thebarentsobserver'
46                            },
47                            paid: 0,
48                            paywall: 'internal'
49                        },
50                        debug: false
51                    });
52                    document.dispatchEvent(new Event('labClientAPIReady'));
53                </script>
53
54                <title>About us - thebarentsobserver</title>
55                <meta name="title" content="About us - thebarentsobserver">
56                <meta name="description" content="">
57                    <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.thebarentsobserver.com/about-us">
58                <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
59                <meta property="og:type" content="website">
60                <meta property="og:title" content="about us - thebarentsobserver">
61                <meta property="og:description" content="">
62                <meta property="og:site_name" content="thebarentsobserver">
63
64                <meta name="google-site-verification" content="YdYiAI0nWawRwI9E4-PH_ddErZMQgCaQJPT8C3irg2E">
65                
65<script src="https://assets.mailmojo.no/sdk.js" data-token="Dgw4GSCTrOtseIGd08SubD9WtNyjc3" async></script>
65<script src="https://www.paypalobjects.com/donate/sdk/donate-sdk.js" charset="UTF-8"></script>
65<script >
66
67PayPal.Donation.Button({
68
69env:'production',
70
71hosted_button_id:'KSLE85AR8JDAE',
72
73image: {
74
75src:'https://www.paypalobjects.com/en_US/NO/i/btn/btn_donateCC_LG.gif',
76
77alt:'Donate with PayPal button',
78
79title:'PayPal - The safer, easier way to pay online!',
80
81}
82
83}).render('#donate-button');
84
85</script>
85
86                <style >.pageHeader .pageHeaderTop {
87   border-bottom: 0px solid var(--bg-black) !important;
88}</style>
89                
90                
91<script>
92const PROVIDER_CONFIG = null
93;
94
95if (PROVIDER_CONFIG && !window.__labradorPaywallClientAPIInitialized) {
96    window.__labradorPaywallClientAPIInitialized = true;
97
98    const LOG_PREFIX = '[Paywall:' + PROVIDER_CONFIG.provider + ']';
99
100    function checkAuthState() {
101        if (!window.userStatus) {
102            return;
103        }
104        window.userStatus.verify().then(function() {
105            var status = window.userStatus.getStatus(PROVIDER_CONFIG.right);
106            var engagentlyToken = window.userStatus.getEngagently();
107
108            if (status >= 2) {
109                window.labClientAPI.emit('accessGranted', {
110                    provider: PROVIDER_CONFIG.provider,
111                    paid: status,
112                    engagentlyToken: engagentlyToken
113                });
114            } else {
115                var data = { provider: PROVIDER_CONFIG.provider, paid: status || 0 };
116                if (engagentlyToken) data.engagentlyToken = engagentlyToken;
117                window.labClientAPI.emit('accessDenied', data);
118            }
119        }).catch(function(err) {
120            window.labClientAPI.emit('accessDenied', { provider: PROVIDER_CONFIG.provider, paid: 0 });
121        });
122    }
123
124    window.labClientAPIReady.then(function(api) {
125        api.set(PROVIDER_CONFIG.provider + 'PaywallHelper', {
126            checkNow: function() { return (window.userStatus && window.userStatus.getStatus(PROVIDER_CONFIG.right)) || 0; },
127            getStatus: checkAuthState
128        });
129        checkAuthState();
130    });
131}
132</script>
132
133                <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.thebarentsobserver.com/about-us">
134                        <link type="image/png" rel="icon" sizes="32x32" href="/view-resources/dachser2/public/thebarentsobserver/favicon-32x32.png">
135                    
136                <link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Merriweather:300,400,700,900" rel="stylesheet" >
137                <link rel="stylesheet" href="/view-resources/view/css/grid.css?v=1789115892-L4">
138                <link rel="stylesheet" href="/view-resources/view/css/main.css?v=1789115892-L4">
139                <link rel="stylesheet" href="/view-resources/view/css/colors.css?v=1789115892-L4">
140                <link rel="stylesheet" href="/view-resources/view/css/print.css?v=1789115892-L4" media="print">
141                <link rel="stylesheet" href="/view-resources/view/css/foundation-icons/foundation-icons.css?v=1789115892-L4">
142                <link rel="stylesheet" href="/view-resources/view/css/site/thebarentsobserver.css?v=1789115892-L4">
143                <style data-key="custom_properties">
144                    :root{--primary: rgba(255,140,0,1);--secondary: rgba(67,156,225,1);--white: rgba(255,255,255,1);--black: rgba(0,0,0,1);--bg-primary: rgba(255,140,0,1);--bg-secondary: rgba(67,156,225,1);--bg-white: rgba(255,255,255,1);--bg-black: rgba(0,0,0,1);}
145                </style>
146                <style data-key="background_colors">
147                    .bg-primary {background-color: rgba(255,140,0,1);}.bg-secondary {background-color: rgba(67,156,225,1);}.bg-white {background-color: rgba(255,255,255,1);}.bg-black {background-color: rgba(0,0,0,1);color: #fff;}@media (max-width: 1023px) { .color_mobile_bg-primary {background-color: rgba(255,140,0,1);}}@media (max-width: 1023px) { .color_mobile_bg-secondary {background-color: rgba(67,156,225,1);}}@media (max-width: 1023px) { .color_mobile_bg-white {background-color: rgba(255,255,255,1);}}@media (max-width: 1023px) { .color_mobile_bg-black {background-color: rgba(0,0,0,1);color: #fff;}}
148                </style>
149                <style data-key="background_colors_opacity">
150                    .bg-primary.op-bg_20 {background-color: rgba(255, 140, 0, 0.2);}.bg-primary.op-bg_40 {background-color: rgba(255, 140, 0, 0.4);}.bg-primary.op-bg_60 {background-color: rgba(255, 140, 0, 0.6);}.bg-primary.op-bg_80 {background-color: rgba(255, 140, 0, 0.8);}.bg-secondary.op-bg_20 {background-color: rgba(67, 156, 225, 0.2);}.bg-secondary.op-bg_40 {background-color: rgba(67, 156, 225, 0.4);}.bg-secondary.op-bg_60 {background-color: rgba(67, 156, 225, 0.6);}.bg-secondary.op-bg_80 {background-color: rgba(67, 156, 225, 0.8);}.bg-white.op-bg_20 {background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.2);}.bg-white.op-bg_40 {background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.4);}.bg-white.op-bg_60 {background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.6);}.bg-white.op-bg_80 {background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);}.bg-black.op-bg_20 {background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);color: #fff;}.bg-black.op-bg_40 {background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);color: #fff;}.bg-black.op-bg_60 {background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.6);color: #fff;}.bg-black.op-bg_80 {background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8);color: #fff;}@media (max-width: 1023px) { .color_mobile_bg-primary.op-bg_20 {background-color: rgba(255, 140, 0, 0.2);}}@media (max-width: 1023px) { .color_mobile_bg-primary.op-bg_40 {background-color: rgba(255, 140, 0, 0.4);}}@media (max-width: 1023px) { .color_mobile_bg-primary.op-bg_60 {background-color: rgba(255, 140, 0, 0.6);}}@media (max-width: 1023px) { .color_mobile_bg-primary.op-bg_80 {background-color: rgba(255, 140, 0, 0.8);}}@media (max-width: 1023px) { .color_mobile_bg-secondary.op-bg_20 {background-color: rgba(67, 156, 225, 0.2);}}@media (max-width: 1023px) { .color_mobile_bg-secondary.op-bg_40 {background-color: rgba(67, 156, 225, 0.4);}}@media (max-width: 1023px) { .color_mobile_bg-secondary.op-bg_60 {background-color: rgba(67, 156, 225, 0.6);}}@media (max-width: 1023px) { .color_mobile_bg-secondary.op-bg_80 {background-color: rgba(67, 156, 225, 0.8);}}@media (max-width: 1023px) { .color_mobile_bg-white.op-bg_20 {background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.2);}}@media (max-width: 1023px) { .color_mobile_bg-white.op-bg_40 {background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.4);}}@media (max-width: 1023px) { .color_mobile_bg-white.op-bg_60 {background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.6);}}@media (max-width: 1023px) { .color_mobile_bg-white.op-bg_80 {background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);}}@media (max-width: 1023px) { .color_mobile_bg-black.op-bg_20 {background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);color: #fff;}}@media (max-width: 1023px) { .color_mobile_bg-black.op-bg_40 {background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);color: #fff;}}@media (max-width: 1023px) { .color_mobile_bg-black.op-bg_60 {background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.6);color: #fff;}}@media (max-width: 1023px) { .color_mobile_bg-black.op-bg_80 {background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8);color: #fff;}}
151                </style>
152                <style data-key="border_colors">
153                    .border-bg-primary{--border-color: var(--bg-primary);}.mobile_border-bg-primary{--mobile-border-color: var(--bg-primary);}.border-bg-secondary{--border-color: var(--bg-secondary);}.mobile_border-bg-secondary{--mobile-border-color: var(--bg-secondary);}.border-bg-white{--border-color: var(--bg-white);}.mobile_border-bg-white{--mobile-border-color: var(--bg-white);}.border-bg-black{--border-color: var(--bg-black);}.mobile_border-bg-black{--mobile-border-color: var(--bg-black);}
154                </style>
155                <style data-key="font_colors">
156                    .primary {color: rgba(255,140,0,1) !important;}.secondary {color: rgba(67,156,225,1) !important;}.white {color: rgba(255,255,255,1) !important;}.black {color: rgba(0,0,0,1) !important;}@media (max-width: 1023px) { .color_mobile_primary {color: rgba(255,140,0,1) !important;}}@media (max-width: 1023px) { .color_mobile_secondary {color: rgba(67,156,225,1) !important;}}@media (max-width: 1023px) { .color_mobile_white {color: rgba(255,255,255,1) !important;}}@media (max-width: 1023px) { .color_mobile_black {color: rgba(0,0,0,1) !important;}}
157                </style>
158                <style data-key="image_gradient">
159                    .image-gradient-bg-primary{--background-color: var(--bg-primary);}.color_mobile_image-gradient-bg-primary{--mobile-background-color: var(--bg-primary);}.image-gradient-bg-secondary{--background-color: var(--bg-secondary);}.color_mobile_image-gradient-bg-secondary{--mobile-background-color: var(--bg-secondary);}.image-gradient-bg-white{--background-color: var(--bg-white);}.color_mobile_image-gradient-bg-white{--mobile-background-color: var(--bg-white);}.image-gradient-bg-black{--background-color: var(--bg-black);}.color_mobile_image-gradient-bg-black{--mobile-background-color: var(--bg-black);}
160                </style>
161                <style data-key="custom_css_variables">
162                :root {
163                    --lab_page_width: 1088px;
164                    --lab_columns_gutter: 11px;
165                    --lab_focus_ring_color: #005fcc;
166                    --lab_social_hover_color: #008cba;
167                    --space-top: 120;
168                    --space-top-adnuntiusAd: ;
169                }
170
171                @media(max-width: 767px) {
172                    :root {
173                        --lab_columns_gutter: 10px;
174                    }
175                }
176
177                @media(min-width: 767px) {
178                    :root {
179                    }
180                }
181                </style>
182<script src="/view-resources/public/common/JWTCookie.js?v=1789115892-L4"></script>
vendor: 1 bytes, line 182
182
183<script src="/view-resources/public/common/Paywall.js?v=1789115892-L4"></script>
183
184                
184<script>
185                window.Dac = window.Dac || {};
186                (function () {
187                    if (navigator) {
188                        window.Dac.clientData = {
189                            language: navigator.language,
190                            userAgent: navigator.userAgent,
191                            innerWidth: window.innerWidth,
192                            innerHeight: window.innerHeight,
193                            deviceByMediaQuery: getDeviceByMediaQuery(),
194                            labDevice: 'desktop', // Device from labrador
195                            device: 'desktop', // Device from varnish
196                            paywall: {
197                                isAuthenticated: isPaywallAuthenticated(),
198                                toggleAuthenticatedContent: toggleAuthenticatedContent,
199                                requiredProducts: [],
200                            },
201                            page: {
202                                id: '100548',
203                                extId: ''
204                            },
205                            siteAlias: 'thebarentsobserver',
206                            debug: window.location.href.includes('debug=1')
207                        };
208                        function getDeviceByMediaQuery() {
209                            if (window.matchMedia('(max-width: 767px)').matches) return 'mobile';
210                            if (window.matchMedia('(max-width: 1023px)').matches) return 'tablet';
211                            return 'desktop';
212                        }
213
214                        function isPaywallAuthenticated() {
215                            if (window.Dac && window.Dac.JWTCookie) {
216                                var JWTCookie = new Dac.JWTCookie({ debug: false });
217                                return JWTCookie.isAuthenticated();
218                            }
219                            return false;
220                        }
221
222                        function toggleAuthenticatedContent(settings) {
223                            if (!window.Dac || !window.Dac.Paywall) {
224                                return;
225                            }
226                            var Paywall = new Dac.Paywall();
227                            var updateDOM = Paywall.updateDOM;
228
229                            if(settings && settings.displayUserName) {
230                                var userName = Paywall.getUserName().then((userName) => {
231                                    updateDOM(userName !== false, userName, settings.optionalGreetingText);
232                                });
233                            } else {
234                                updateDOM(window.Dac.clientData.paywall.isAuthenticated);
235                            }
236                        }
237                    }
238                }());
239                </script>
239
240
241                    
241<script type="module" src="/view-resources/baseview/public/common/baseview/moduleHandlers.js?v=1789115892-L4" data-cookieconsent="ignore"></script>
241
242<!-- Global site tag (gtag.js) - Google Analytics -->
vendor: 64 bytes, lines 242-243
242
243<script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=
243G-5H501S5BYS
vendor: 12 bytes, line 243
243"></script>
244<script>
245    
vendor: 139 bytes, lines 245-248
245window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || [];
246    function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);}
247    gtag('js', new Date());
248    gtag('config', '
248G-5H501S5BYS
vendor: 4 bytes, line 248
248');
249</script>
249
250                <link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Merriweather:regular,300,300italic,italic,700,700italic,900,900italic" rel="stylesheet" >
251                <link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Inter:regular,300,300italic,italic,700,700italic,900,900italic" rel="stylesheet" >
252                <style id="dachser-vieweditor-styles">
253                    body { font-family: "Inter"; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; }
254                    .articleHeader .headline { font-family: "Merriweather"; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; }
255                    .articleHeader .subtitle { font-family: "Merriweather"; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; }
256                    article.column .content .headline { font-family: "Merriweather"; font-weight: 700; font-style: normal; }
257                    article.column .content .subtitle { font-family: "Merriweather"; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; }
258                    header#nav, header.pageHeader { font-family: "Inter"; font-weight: 700; font-style: normal; font-size: 1rem; }@media (max-width: 767px) { .resp_fonts header#nav, header.pageHeader {font-size: calc(0.262vw * 16); } }
259                    .dropdownMenu ul li, .pageHeader .hamburger .hamburger-container .dropdownMenu ul li { font-family: "Inter"; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 1.25rem; }@media (max-width: 767px) { .resp_fonts .dropdownMenu ul li, .pageHeader .hamburger .hamburger-container .dropdownMenu ul li {font-size: calc(0.262vw * 16); } }
260                    .font-Merriweather { font-family: "Merriweather" !important; }
261                    .font-Merriweather.font-weight-normal { font-weight: normal !important; }
262                    .font-Merriweather.font-weight-light { font-weight: 300 !important; }
263                    .font-Merriweather.font-weight-bold { font-weight: 700 !important; }
264                    .font-Merriweather.font-weight-black { font-weight: 900 !important; }
265                    .font-Inter { font-family: "Inter" !important; }
266                    .font-Inter.font-weight-normal { font-weight: normal !important; }
267                    .font-Inter.font-weight-light { font-weight: 300 !important; }
268                    .font-Inter.font-weight-bold { font-weight: 700 !important; }
269                    .font-Inter.font-weight-black { font-weight: 900 !important; }
270                </style>
271                <style id="css_variables"></style>
272                
272<script>
273                    window.dachserData = {
274                        _data: {},
275                        _instances: {},
276                        get: function(key) {
277                            return dachserData._data[key] || null;
278                        },
279                        set: function(key, value) {
280                            dachserData._data[key] = value;
281                        },
282                        push: function(key, value) {
283                            if (!dachserData._data[key]) {
284                                dachserData._data[key] = [];
285                            }
286                            dachserData._data[key].push(value);
287                        },
288                        setInstance: function(key, identifier, instance) {
289                            if (!dachserData._instances[key]) {
290                                dachserData._instances[key] = {};
291                            }
292                            dachserData._instances[key][identifier] = instance;
293                        },
294                        getInstance: function(key, identifier) {
295                            return dachserData._instances[key] ? dachserData._instances[key][identifier] || null : null;
296                        },
297                        reflow: () => {}
298                    };
299                </script>
299
300                
301
302                
302<script type="application/ld+json">
303                    [{"@context":"http://schema.org","@type":"WebSite","name":"thebarentsobserver","url":"https://www.thebarentsobserver.com"},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"WebPage","url":"https://www.thebarentsobserver.com/about-us","name":"About us - thebarentsobserver","description":"","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"thebarentsobserver","url":"https://www.thebarentsobserver.com","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://www.thebarentsobserver.com/view-resources/dachser2/public/thebarentsobserver/logo.png"}}}]
304                </script>
304                
305                
306                
307                
308                
309
310
311
312
313<script>
314var k5aMeta = { "title": "About us - thebarentsobserver", "teasertitle": "", "kicker": "", "url": "https://www.thebarentsobserver.com/about-us", "login": (Dac.clientData.paywall.isAuthenticated ? 1 : 0), "subscriber": (Dac.clientData.paywall.isAuthenticated ? 1 : 0), "subscriberId": (Dac.clientData.subscriberId ? `"${ Dac.clientData.subscriberId }"` : "") };
315</script>
315
316        
316<script>
317        (function () {
318            var sources = [
319                '//cl.k5a.io/6156b8c81b4d741e051f44c2.js',
320            ];
321
322            function load() {
323                for (var i = 0; i < sources.length; i++) {
324                    var script = document.createElement('script');
325                    script.src = sources[i];
326                    script.async = true;
327                    document.head.appendChild(script);
328                }
329            }
330
331            // Kilkaya reads k5aMeta once, when it boots. On a paid article behind a
332            // client-side paywall the reader's access is not known while the head is
333            // parsed, so partial/lab4/analytics/kilkaya_metadata publishes k5aMetaReady
334            // and we hold off until the metadata is correct. Everywhere else the values
335            // are right already and Kilkaya loads immediately.
336            if (window.k5aMetaReady) {
337                window.k5aMetaReady.then(load);
338            } else {
339                load();
340            }
341        }());
342        </script>
342
343        
344    </head>
345    <body class="l4 front site_thebarentsobserver"
346        
347        >
348
349        
350        
351        
351<script>
352        document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", (event) => {
353            setScrollbarWidth();
354            window.addEventListener('resize', setScrollbarWidth);
355        });
356        function setScrollbarWidth() {
357            const root = document.querySelector(':root');
358            const width = (window.innerWidth - document.body.offsetWidth < 21) ? window.innerWidth - document.body.offsetWidth : 15;
359            root.style.setProperty('--lab-scrollbar-width', `${ width }px`);
360        }
361        </script>
361
362
363        
364        <a href="#main" class="skip-link">Jump to main content</a>
365
366        <header class="pageElement pageHeader">
367    <div class="section">
368    <div class="section pageHeaderTop">
369    <div class="row">
370<figure class="logo logo--mobile" style="--logo-height:53px">
371    <a href="//thebarentsobserver.com" aria-label="Go to frontpage">
372        <img src="/view-resources/dachser2/public/thebarentsobserver/logo.png"
373            alt="Go to frontpage. Logo, thebarentsobserver.com"
374            width="540"
375            height="53">
376    </a>
377</figure>
378
379<figure class="logo logo--primary">
380    <a href="//thebarentsobserver.com" aria-label="Go to frontpage">
381        <img src="/view-resources/dachser2/public/thebarentsobserver/logo.png"
382            alt="Go to frontpage. Logo, thebarentsobserver.com"
383            width="540"
384            >
385    </a>
386</figure>
387
388<figure class="logo logo--secondary" style="--logo-height:53px">
389    <a href="//thebarentsobserver.com" aria-label="Go to frontpage">
390        <img src="/view-resources/dachser2/public/thebarentsobserver/logo.png"
391            alt="Go to frontpage. Logo, thebarentsobserver.com"
392            width="540"
393            height="53">
394    </a>
395</figure>
396<a class="link pageHeaderSlogan" href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;thebarentsobserver.com&#x2F;support-us"><p class="text">Fight Censorship!</p>
397<p class="text">Contribute</p>
398</a>
399</div>
400
401</div>
402<div class="section pageHeaderBottom">
403    <div class="row">
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800</header>
801
802        
803
804        
805
806        <section class="main front" id="main">
807        <h1 class="hidden-heading">About us - thebarentsobserver</h1>
808            
809            <div data-element-guid="11484190-d3af-4c49-aa8c-62513ffffbdc" class="page-content"><div data-element-guid="2a1745f2-ce79-4e8e-85c6-9de30e175b1c" class="row small-12 large-12" style="">
810	<div data-element-guid="a36376d6-c387-4eb2-8fa2-c007d6fb7968" class="column text_singleline small-12 large-12 small-abs-12 large-abs-12">
811    
812    <h2 
813        class="content singleline t44" 
814        style="">
815        <span data-lab-text_size_desktop="24" class="t24">The Barents Observer</span>
816    </h2 >
817</div></div>
818<div data-element-guid="32df7305-58be-4c51-86a7-46c866252bb0" class="row small-12 large-12" style="">
819	<div data-element-guid="79f988ff-0311-433a-8dab-cb3cb3c8b935" class="column text_singleline small-12 large-12 small-abs-12 large-abs-12">
820    
821    <h3 
822        class="content singleline t24" 
823        style="">
824        Championing freedom of speech and support for democracy
825    </h3 >
826</div></div>
827<div data-element-guid="d12f6203-f670-4217-b1e7-19a6e0856b3b" class="row small-12 large-12" style="">
828	<div data-element-guid="04f00bf6-4ee0-439a-aed6-cd966759d612" class="column text_multiline small-12 large-12 small-abs-12 large-abs-12">
829    
830    <div class="content multiline bodytext"
831        style="">
832        <p>The Barents Observer is a journalist-owned online newspaper covering the Euro-Arctic region and northern Russia.</p><p>Focused on delivering cross-border journalism, the Barents Observer provides daily news reports from Scandinavia, Russia and the Arctic.</p><p>Our dedicated and experienced team of reporters, from Norway and in exile from Russia, produce news and multi-media content targeting global audiences interested in Arctic issues. We follow the key trends and developments in topics like climate change, energy and industry, shipping, civil society, borders, politics, ecology, security and indigenous peoples issues.</p><p>The Barents Observer delivers journalism that follows the principles of the Norwegian Rights and Duties of the Editor.</p><p>Our core values are freedom of speech and support for democracy. By providing impartial information and opinions across borders in the Euro-Arctic region, we aim to be a counterbalance to authoritarianism and propaganda. Our reporting serves local societies, supports regional development and promotes international cooperation.</p><p>The Independent Barents Observer is a non-profit stock company fully owned by its reporting staff. No regional or national authority has owner interests in the company, nor exerts any influence on news gathering operations or editorials. The newsdesk is located in Kirkenes, a Norwegian Arctic town situated a few kilometres from the borders of Russia and Finland.</p><p>The Barents Observer publishes in English and <a href="https://thebarentsobserver.com/ru">Russian</a>.</p><figure data-element-guid="2574fbc8-b16c-44a7-bcae-2d164c1a4e2b" class="column small-12 large-12 small-abs-12 large-abs-12">
833    
834    <div class="content " style="">
835
836        <div class="img fullwidthTarget">
837            <picture>
838                <source srcset="https://image.thebarentsobserver.com/163005.webp?imageId=163005&x=0.00&y=0.00&cropw=99.58&croph=100.00&width=2116&height=1418&format=webp" 
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847                    type="image/jpeg">    
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866                    </div>
867        <div class="caption " data-showmore="Show more">
868            <figcaption itemprop="caption" class="italic m-italic">Kirkenes is a small border-town between Finland to the west, Russia to the east and the Barents Sea to the north.</figcaption>
869            <figcaption itemprop="author" class="" data-byline-prefix="">Photo: Thomas Nilsen</figcaption>
870        </div>    </div>
871</figure>
872<p>The Barents Observer is funded by donations from individuals, private companies, foundations and others. Crowdfunding helps us run the newsroom in difficult times of Russian state censorship and repression against free media. Despite the efforts of the Kremlin’s censorship authorities, the Roskomnadzor, to block the Barents Observer from the Russian internet, we successfully manage to break through. We are grateful for the support of the Fritt Ord Foundation for journalist projects and for business start-up grants from both Innovation Norway and Sør-Varanger municipality.</p><p>In 2022/23 we invited exiled Russian journalists to work with us. Through this, the Barents Observer has created a free and safe environment on the Norwegian side of the border for Russian speaking journalists that have fled their country in fear of prosecution for doing their job. Our passion to support the freedom of Russian journalism is made possible by donations from private individuals as well as grants from the Fritt Ord Foundation and Tinius Trust. In collaboration with UiT The Arctic University of Norway, we run a project aimed at strengthening free and independent voices among Russian speaking journalists in exile, including knowledge building and and free press. This project is co-funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.</p><p>Each one of us can contribute with a small or larger <a href="https://www.thebarentsobserver.com/support-us">donation</a>. Together we will make a difference!</p><p>In the circumpolar north, we have teamed up with the two media networks, <a href="http://www.rcinet.ca/eye-on-the-arctic/">Eye on the Arctic</a> and <a href="https://www.arctictoday.com/">Arctic Today</a>. Both are republishing our articles. We also cooperate with other Russian media in exile, such as <a href="https://semnasem.org/" target="_blank">7x7 Journal</a> and <a href="https://novayagazeta.eu/en" target="_blank">Novaya Gazeta Europa</a>.</p><p>The Barents Observer takes the pulse on regional mass media. Our reporters take part in seminars, courses and events focusing on freedom of speech and countering propaganda and Kremlin-initiated influence operations.</p><p>The Barents Observer was founded by Atle Staalesen in 2002 as a private initiative based on the need for an increased flow of cross-border knowledge in the Barents Region. From initiation the news site has been bi-lingual in English and Russian. In the peri
872od 2005 to 2015, the editorial desk of the Barents Observer shared an office with the Norwegian Barents secretariat and the reporting staff were its employees. The secretariat was owned by the northernmost counties and in 2015 the board of the secretariat decided to remove the editorial freedom of the newspaper. They argued we shouldn’t write on topics too critical to Russia. Simultaneously as the secretariat attempted to limit editorial freedoms, Russia’s secret service, the FSB, asked Norwegian officials to shut down the Barents Observer.</p><p>Naturally, it was unacceptable for the Barents Observer not to follow basic principles of free journalism and the reporters moved out, added ‘Independent’ to the name and re-launched the publication as a journalist-owned product. Unfortunately, but also tellingly, the secretariat retained the domain name ‘barentsobserver.com’ and the article-archive for the period 2008-2015 for ten years before handing it over in spring of 2025.</p><p>The Barents Observer team today consists of:</p><ul><li><p>Atle Staalesen, founder and journalist</p></li><li><p>Thomas Nilsen, editor and journalist</p></li><li><p>Farida Kurbangaleeva, news-editor Russian edition and journalist</p></li><li><p>Denis Zagore, journalist and multi-media content</p></li><li><p>Georgii Chentemirov, journalist</p></li><li><p>Olesia Krivtsova, journalist</p></li><li><p>Laura A. Janda, opinion editor</p></li></ul><figure data-element-guid="c8b07c6f-f0e7-45bd-a482-39366c8c436a" class="column small-12 large-12 small-abs-12 large-abs-12">
873    
874    <div class="content " style="">
875
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908            <figcaption itemprop="caption" class="italic m-italic">The Barents Observer team consists of (from the left): Atle Staalesen, Olesia Krivtsova, Georgii Chentemirov, Farida Kurbangaleeva, Thomas Nilsen, Susanna Sjöstedt and Denis Zagore.</figcaption>
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912<p class="font-weight-bold m-font-weight-bold" data-lab-font_weight="font-weight-bold">Barents Observer timeline:</p><p>* 2002 - Founded as a private, independent news online by Atle Staalesen.</p><p>* 2005 - 2015 - Published in cooperation with the Norwegian Barents Secretariat.</p><p>* 2014 - The FSB called on Norwegian officials to <a href="https://www.nrk.no/norge/kilde-til-nrk_-_-russisk-etterretning-ba-norge-om-a-bringe-barentsobserver-til-taushet-1.12583998">shut down the Barents Observer</a>.</p><p>* 2015 - County mayors of northern Norway removed the Barents Observer's editorial freedom, claiming the newsp
912aper was <a href="https://www.vl.no/kommentar/en-uvirkelig-historie-om-norsk-pressefrihet/841519" target="_blank">too critical</a> to developments in Russia.</p><p>* 2015 - Re-started and organised as a non-profit, journalist owned, independent newspaper. The Barents secretariat <a href="https://www.m24.no/barentsobserver-nyheter/barents-observer-ud-matte-nok-en-gang-sette-de-nordnorske-fylkene-pa-plass/122851" target="_blank">threatened to sue</a> the Barents Observer and kept the domain name and older archive hostage for almost 10 years (until June 2025).</p><p>* 2017 - Editor Thomas Nilsen <a href="https://www.thebarentsobserver.com/democracy-and-media/barents-observer-editor-thomas-nilsen-is-declared-unwanted-in-russia-by-fsb/123681">declared persona non grata</a> in Russia by FSB for "posing a threat to the country's national security."</p><p>* 2019 - Russia's censorship agency, Roskomnadzor, <a href="https://www.thebarentsobserver.com/news/the-barents-observer-is-now-blocked-in-russia/131842">blocked the Barents Observer</a> on internet.</p><p>* 2022 - Russia's General Prosecutor requests the <a href="https://www.thebarentsobserver.com/democracy-and-media/the-barents-observer-is-requested-closed-by-russias-general-prosecutor/128574">Barents Observer closed</a>.</p><p>* 2022 - Barents Observer expands newsroom with a hub for Russian language journalists in exile.</p><p>* 2023 - Journalist Georgii Chentemirov <a href="https://www.thebarentsobserver.com/democracy-and-media/barents-observer-journalist-georgii-chentemirov-declared-foreign-agent/145094">declared "foreign agent"</a>.</p><p>* 2025 - Barents Observer <a href="https://www.thebarentsobserver.com/news/the-barents-observer-beats-russia-in-european-court/424240">beats Russia</a> in European court (ECtHR), censorship blockage is illegal.</p><p>* 2025 - Russia's General Prosecutor declares the <a href="https://www.thebarentsobserver.com/news/moscow-declares-the-barents-observer-an-undesirable-organisation/424417">Barents Observer an "undesirable organisation"</a>. We challenge the decision in court. After three court hearings in July and August, the judge <a href="https://www.thebarentsobserver.com/democracy-and-media/despite-loss-in-court-barents-observer-sees-case-against-russian-general-prosecutor-as-victory/434236">ruled in favor</a> of the General Prosecutor. We appeal. </p><p>* 2025 - Journalist Olesia Krivtsova <a href="https://www.thebarentsobserver.com/democracy-and-media/putins-justice-ministry-declares-barents-observer-journalist-olesia-krivtsova-a-foreign-agent/435968">declared "foreign agent"</a>.</p><p>* 2025 - Journalist Denis Zagore <a href="https://www.thebarentsobserver.com/democracy-and-media/with-denis-listed-on-friday-half-of-barents-observers-journalists-are-now-foreign-agents/438511">declared "foreign agent"</a>.</p><p>* 2026 - Journalist Olesia Krivtsova <a href="https://www.thebarentsobserver.com/news/journalist-olesia-krivtsova-sentenced-in-absentia-to-six-years-in-prison/453263">sentenced in absentia to six years in prison</a> by a military court in Severomorsk.</p><p>* 2026 - Russia issues <a href="https://www.thebarentsobserver.com/democracy-and-media/wanted-russia-issues-arrest-warrant-against-barents-observer-journalist-denis-zagore/458571">arrest warrant against</a> journalist Denis Zagore.&nbsp;</p>
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976        <p><a href="mailto:[email protected]"><span class="white color_mobile_white" data-lab-text_color="white">[email protected]</span></a></p><p><span data-lab-font_weight="font-weight-bold" class="font-weight-bold m-font-weight-bold">Publisher</span> Atle Staalesen</p><p><a href="mailto:[email protected]"><span class="white color_mobile_white" data-lab-text_color="white">[email protected]</span></a></p><p><span data-lab-font_weight="font-weight-bold" class="font-weight-bold m-font-weight-bold">Editor</span> Thomas Nilsen</p><p><a href="mailto:[email protected]"><span class="white color_mobile_white" data-lab-text_color="white">[email protected]</span></a><br>☏ +47-905 73 143</p><p>News editor Farida Kurbangaleeva </p><p>[email protected]</p><p>Opinion editor Laura A. Janda</p><p>[email protected] </p><p>Journalist Denis Zagore</p><p><a href="mailto:[email protected]"><span class="white color_mobile_white" data-lab-text_color="white">[email protected]</span></a></p><p>Journalist Georgii Chentemirov</p><p><a href="mailto:[email protected]"><span class="white color_mobile_white" data-lab-text_color="white">[email protected]</span></a></p><p>Journalist Olesia Krivtsova</p><p><a href="mailto:[email protected]"><span class="white color_mobile_white" data-lab-text_color="white">[email protected]</span></a></p><p>Visiting address:</p><p>Storgata 5, Kirkenes, Norway</p>
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