The best political ideas come from Russia these days (and just in case someone does not understand the sarcasm here: the complete opposite is obviously the case). Member of parliament Ivan Sukharev said according to Barents-Observer that Russia should build a prison for terrorists in Spitsbergen to isolate them there. Alternatively, he suggested Novaya Zemlya, a Russian arctic island southeast of Svalbard. It would be nothing less than a revival of the terrible Gulag system of Sovjet times.
Norwegian law fully applies in the Russian settlement Barentsburg in Spitsbergen.
The Russians can run a coal mine and tourism, but no prison.
The Norwegian Sysselmester (high government representative) Lars Fause quickly made clear that the whole territory of Svalbard including the Russian settlements are under Norwegian law and sovereignty. No state or other entity other than the Norwegian state is entitled to carry out duties of sovereigny such as criminal prosecution, including running a prison. Russian does not have any sovereign rights in Svalbard. According to the Spitsbergen Treaty, a Russian company such as Trust Arktikugol may run a coal mine or tourism on their properties in Barentsburg and Pyramiden, but nothing that involves sovereign rights.
This and other publishing products of the Spitsbergen publishing house in the Spitsbergen-Shop.
Norwegens arktischer Norden (1): Spitzbergen
Photobook: Norway's arctic islands. The text in this book is German. [shop url="https://shop.spitzbergen.de/en/polar-books/70-norwegens-arktischer-norden-1-aerial-arctic-9783937903262.html"] ← Back
Lofoten, Jan Mayen and Spitsbergen from the air - Photobook: Norway's arctic islands. The text in this book is German, but there is very little text, so I am sure that you will enjoy it regardless which languages you read (or not).
The companion book for the Svalbardhytter poster. The poster visualises the diversity of Spitsbergen‘s huts and their stories in a range of Arctic landscapes. The book tells the stories of the huts in three languages.
Comprehensive guidebook about Spitsbergen. Background (wildlife, plants, geology, history etc.), practical information including travelling seasons, how to travel, description of settlements, routes and regions.
Join an exciting journey with dog, skis and tent through the wintery wastes of East Greenland! We were five guys and a dog when we started in Ittoqqortoormiit, the northernmost one of two settlements on Greenland’s east coast.
12 postcards which come in a beautifully designed tray. Beautiful images from South Georgia across Antarctica from the Antarctic Peninsula to the Ross Sea and up to Macquarie Island and Campbell Island.