Paul Goble
Staunton, Nov. 4 – In the latest ratcheting up of Russian pressure on Norway’s Svalbard archipelago, the Russian Geographic Society has opened an “expedition and tourist center” in Barentsburg. The RGS has close ties to the Kremlin and Russian defense ministry, and the head of the new office clearly speaks for them.
She is Darya Slyumyayeva, is employed by Arktikugol, the Russian coal company with interests on the archipelago and hassmained fame as Spitsgirl for setting up and running a social media page (vk.com/spitsgirl) that has promoted Moscow’s line on Svalbard and the Arctic more generally (thebarentsobserver.com/news/russian-geographical-society-opens-office-on-svalbard/439759).
Last year, she laid out what is her and Moscow’s position on Svalbard. Arguing that that archipelago “plays an important role in the strengthening of Russia’s positions,” she complained that Moscow faces problems because Norway seeks “to establish its full and absolute sovereignty” there in violation of the 1920 treaty (arcticyouthnetwork.org/2024/02/19/near-the-north-pole-spitsbergen/).
The new office opened just one day after Vladimir Putin spoke to the Russian Geographical Society and stressed that the Arctic is along with Ukraine “now among the Society’s main foci of attention” (rgo.ru/activity/redaction/news/vladimir-putin-predlozhil-sozdat-muzey-geografii-i-obyavit-2027-y-godom-geografii/).
For background on Moscow’s efforts to expand its role on Svalbard, efforts to which the new office is likely to make both overt and covert contributions, see jamestown.org/program/moscow-using-svalbard-to-test-natos-readiness-and-resolve/ and jamestown.org/program/moscows-first-move-against-nato-could-take-place-in-norways-svalbard-archipelago/.
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