Thomas Nilsen

Thomas Nilsen (born 29 August 1968) is a Norwegian journalist who has extensively covered oil drilling in the Arctic region. He was editor of the BarentsObserver, a Norwegian Arctic online newspaper based in Kirkenes, for six years before he was sacked in 2015. Norway’s public service broadcaster, NRK, claim Nilsen was sacked at the behest of the Russian intelligence service, the FSB.

Life and work Nilsen studied at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, Norway.

He has been an environmental campaigner and guide for adventure tours.

He worked for 12 years for the Bellona Foundation's Russian study group, focusing on nuclear safety issues and other environmental challenges in northern areas including the Arctic.

Beginning in 2003, On 28 September 2015 Nilsen was sacked from his position as editor. Den Russiske Nordflaten: Kilder til Radioaktiv Forurensning. Oslo: Bellona, 1996. . The Russian Northern Fleet: Sources of Radioactive Contamination. Oslo; Washington, D.C.: Bellona, 1996. . Den Russiske Nordflåten: Kilder til Radioaktiv Forurensning. Bellona Rapport, 1996 nr. 2. Oslo J.W. Cappelen; Bellona, 1996. . La Flotte Russe du Nord: les Sources de la Pollution Radioactive. Rapport Bellona, Tome 2, 1996. Geneva: Georg Editeur, 1998. .