Languages

Two hundred kilometres above the Arctic Circle hundreds of refugees and asylum seekers are finding a new life in northern Norway, but recently the doors have been shutting on those desperate to start fresh in the High North.

With the Arctic becoming an object of steadily growing attention, Murmansk Oblast establishes the “Arctic University” to prepare Barents students for jobs in Arctic oil and gas projects. 

Members of the LGBT community in Murmansk speak out about living in a country where the government has declared them an enemy of the state. One organization is reaching out to help youth and adults overcome the stigma and prejudice of homosexuality and live openly. But some are finding escape from Russia is the only way to gain freedom.

As Syrian refugees in the hundreds cross over from Russia, capacities in Kirkenes reach the limits. Now an abandoned military compound is turned into refugee reception center.

Dmitrii Medvedev (5-tv.ru)

Russian authorities are ready to step up state support to the Russian-language press abroad, and especially the electronic media, Russian President Dmitrii Medvedev told the participants at yesterday’s World Congress of the Russian Press.

Russian Cossacks (wikipedia.org)

A group of Russians on the Taimyr Peninsula have formed the first ever Cossack stanitsa (village) north of the Arctic Circle. –Our zone of responsibilities stretch all the way to the North Pole, the local Cossack leader says.

Vladimir Gudovichev (rusnord.ru)

Former deputy governor in Arkhangelsk Oblast, Vladimir Gudovichev, has been charged by regional prosecutors of serious fraud. The deputy in the administration of former governor Nikolay Kiselyov might face up to ten years in jail.

Press Freedom in Russia

Russia is number 141 of 173 countries ranked in this year’s Press Freedom index from Reporters Without Borders. The country is better than Ethiopia but worse than Mexico.

The World Bank in a new report calls on Russia to step up social spending. Increasing unemployment and unstable economy could stir social unrest, the bank maintains.

Sedov

The barque “Sedov”, the world’s largest traditional sailing ship in operation, has set sail again after repairs and winter storage.

Protesters in Arkhangelsk (BarentsObserver)

The surgeons of the first clinical hospital of Arkhangelsk on Friday initiated a protest meeting against local healthcare policies and what they see as a catastrophic situation with regard to medical equipment supply

Research vessel "Mikhail Somov"

The Russian Arctic research vessel “Mikhail Somov” today sails off from Arkhangelsk heading towards 40 remote Russian Arctic research stations.

People

Salary debts in Northwest Russia have increased three-fold since the start of 2009. Murmansk Oblast is worst off of all the subjects in the region.

The European Parliament’s 2009 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought has been awarded to Russian civil rights defense organization Memorial.