In the Shadow of War: “The Barents Cooperation was a Genuine, Honest Attempt” Kirkenes, Norway: Rune Rafaelsen was awarded a medal for his work for friendship between Russia and Norway. A Russian medal. He has returned it. Friendship with the official Russia is shattered. As are decades of cooperation between people in the two countries. “But you cannot blame the Barents cooperation for that. It was a genuine and honest attempt”, says the former Kirkenes mayor.
In the Shadow of War: The Mayor of This Border Town Wants NATO Membership Ivalo, Finland: Mayor Toni K. Leine of the Finnish border municipality Inari has always had close cooperation with the neighbors in Russia. Now, however this cooperation has been shattered, worries run high, and he feels a strong sense of sadness. Nevertheless, he trusts the national authorities and wants NATO membership. Watch the entire interview here.
In the Shadow of War: Russian Journalists are Threatened with 15 Years in Prison for Writing about the War Joensuu, Finland: Last weekend, a series of Russian journalists participated at an international journalist conference in Finland. According to Amund Trellevik, former leader of Barents Press International, creating such a meeting has been very hard. “Of course they took a big risk in coming here”, he says. Watch the whole interview here.
In the Shadow of War: He had to Flee Russia To Do His Job Joensuu, Finland: Alexey Kuvalyov is one out of 150 Russian journalists who have had to flee Russia in order to avoid harsh prison sentences for their journalism. Now, he is doing the same for the Meduza newspaper from Riga, Latvia, where his newspaper a.o. has revealed how Russian soldiers rape and kill civilians in Ukraine. We met him in Finland. Watch the entire interview here.
High North Tour «In the Shadow of the War»: «We are Well Prepared and Not Afraid of Russia» Kuusamo, Finland: His gaze is friendly, his voice soft and welcoming. The message, however, is clear: “We know Russia and are not afraid of them.” Meet Jouka Manninen, a mayor on the Finnish border to Russia.
The High North Tour 2022: In the Shadow of War Commentary: Last winter, I traveled Northern Norway for three months. It was a journey in the shadow of the pandemic. Now, I start a new tour under the label of “The High North Tour”. This time, in the shadow of a war.
