– It may seem that one hand does not know what the other is doing because the Attorney General orders us to be blocked, but we are already blocked. So says Thomas Nilsen, editor of the online newspaper The Independent Barents Observer. The online newspaper is based in Kirkenes and publishes in both English and Russian. It has been blocked in Russia since 2019. But now, for the second time, they are being asked to close, and that from higher-ups in Russia. 24-HOUR DEADLINE: In the letter, the Barents Observer was given a deadline of 24 hours to sort out what the Russian authorities believe to be wrong, but without specifying what kind of article or articles it concerned. Photo: Kristina Kalinina At the weekend, the editors received a letter from the Russian Attorney General, Igor Krasnov. There he orders the free and independent newspaper blocked. According to Krasnov, the Barents Observer publishes fake news and a desire to undermine the political situation in Russia, but does not refer to specific examples or individual cases. – More serious The editor in Kirkenes says that this inquiry is different from four years ago. – It is more serious because it now comes from the highest prosecutor’s office in Russia. And the reasoning they have for adopting Barents Observers blocked is different this time, says Nilsen. – In what way? – In February 2019, it was a single case that caused them to block us. This time the Russian Attorney General orders the entire newspaper to be shut down. And he does so on the basis that he believes that we are undermining the security of the Russian Federation. LETTER: In this letter, the Russian Attorney General orders the Barents Observer to be shut down. Photo: Barents Observer Chairman of Barents Press Norway, Amund Trellevik, is not surprised by the inquiry. – It shows how under pressure the Russian authorities are to shut down all critical journalism. It shows how bad press freedom is in Russia. Trellevik explains that the Russian authorities themselves know that media such as the Barents Observer are not going to close down because of such inquiries. He believes it is a rhetorical move on the part of the authorities. BAD FREEDOM OF THE PRESS: Amund Trellevik is chairman of Barents Press Norway. He says that the announcement to shut down the media shows how bad press freedom is in Russia. Photo: Ole Åsheim / Nordlys – Ignoring the entire inquiry In the letter, it was stated that the Barents Observer had a deadline of 24 hours, but the newspaper blew it. – Whether it is 24 hours or 24 days does not matter. We feel very confident in what we are doing, namely ignoring the entire inquiry, says Nilsen. The editors will continue to write freely and independently, as they have done since 2019. They will in no way be influenced by what the Russian authorities may think of their journalism. CONTINUES AS BEFORE: The Barents Observer says that their journalism will not be affected by the Russian letter. Photo: Ksenia Novikova / news On the other hand, Nilsen believes that the letter is proof that they are reaching through the censorship wall of the Russian censorship wall of the Russian authorities. – It is a paradox, but it is a confirmation that we reach our readers in Russia very well. – How will any new blocking affect you? – Technically, it will not affect us at all. We have good technical solutions to get past the Russian censorship, and we will continue to do so, says Nilsen and adds: – The fact that the Russian Attorney General sends this letter proves that our measures to get past the censorship wall are working.
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