Colonel Ivar Magne Sakserud will be replacing Colonel Leif Arne Ljøkjell, who has served as Border Commissioner for six years. Each border commissioner has a fixed-term employment of three years, and the resigning border commissioner has had the position for two terms.
Sakserud will have his base at the Norwegian Border Commissioners office in Kirkenes and maintain the good relations with the Russian Border Commissioner, Colonel Vladimir Bobrov.
Last year Colonel Sakserud was head of contingent of the Norwegian armed forces in Afghanistan. He has also been posted at the Norwegian-Russian border as border station officer, but that was in the early part of his military career almost 30 years ago.
