In memory Jelena Larionova

Jelena Larionova passed away Sunday 6th July. She was a true Barentspioneer. She was one of the first journalists who started to work with cross-border cooperation in the Barents Region, even before the Barents Cooperation was established in 1993. She learned Norwegian at Svanvik Folkehøgskole, worked for the local radio station, and developed very soon strong relations to Norwegian and Nordic media partners.

For a period she also worked at the Norwegian Barents Secretariat in Murmansk. In 1995 she was one of the funding mothers of Barents Press International. She was as an enthusiastic project coordinator for Barents Press to the bitter end. Her engagement for journalist cooperation in the Barents Region cannot be overestimated.

Jelena became the voice of Murmansk. Her journalistic work during the tragedy of the Russian submarine “Kursk” in August 2000 stands as an example on how independent and critical journalism should be implemented. She never in her work lost her faith of a truly free press in Russia. For that she also received a press prize from Zeit-Stiftung Hamburg and the Norwegian Fritt Ord.

We have lost a friend, a loving person, and a beautiful and decent soul. We promise you to try to follow in your footsteps.

Our thoughts go to Jelena´s husband and her two daughters.

Rune Gjertin Rafaelsen
The Norwegian Barents Secretariat