The Barents Observer is based in Northern Norway but monitors the entire Barents region, which also includes Norrbotten.
Their monitoring of northern Russia has become increasingly difficult in recent years. In 2019, the Russian authorities blocked the newspaper’s website in the country after publishing an article from Arjeplogsnytt on gay Dan Eriksson from Arvidsjaur.
Classified as “undesirable”
Barents Observer took the whole case to court and on Thursday the European Court of Justice sentenced to the newspaper’s advantage – the day after, it was banned by Russia.
– We did not know that our journalism had such a big impact, says Thomas Nilsen, editor of The Barents Observer.
The newspaper has been classified by Russian authorities as a “undesirable organization”.
Among other things, the authorities believe that the newspaper has a clear anti-Russian orientation, contributes to the feeling of protest among the population and uses Russian citizens who previously mood as foreign agents or extremists.
Risks six years in prison
According to Thomas Nilsen, this means that all Russian citizens who now have contact with the newspaper risk up to six years in prison.
– We will no longer use contacts inside Russia.
After all, the newspaper will continue to monitor northern Russia.
– It makes it more difficult, but we will use other channels, says Thomas Nilsen.