On Wednesday, the Norwegian national broadcaster flooded its broadcasts with the ”revelation” that Russian military intelligence is present on Svalbard.
Through cooperation with Russian exile journalists, Consul Andrei Chemerilo in Barentsburg was traced back to a residential complex that belongs to the military intelligence agency GRU.
A valid piece of information, in and of itself, based on thorough and competent investigations carried out by Russian journalists. However, it takes off when this information reaches the news desk in NRK, the Norwegian national broadcaster. There, and only there, it hits like a bomb and is consequently wrapped up in a dramaturgy made to make us jump by the radio and TV set. Apparently, the consul’s connection to GRU represents a dramatic change in Russia’s presence on Svalbard.
It is a curious angle to adopt, as NRK has journalists with great knowledge about both Svalbard in particular and the High North in general. […]
The challenge on Svalbard is not found in mutual intelligence in two, three if we count Pyramiden, very transparent settlements. Quite the contrary, it is a benefit that Russia has a correct understanding of Norwegian security policy, also on Svalbard. Läs artikel