The new Norwegian Honorary Consul in Arkhangelsk

The 50 year old Russian Andrey Shalyov has been working for the Norwegian Barents Secretariat since 1996. Through his work on the Arkhangelsk Information office he has gained a wide range of knowledge on Norwegian- Russian relations. As of September this year he will be the Norwegian Honorary Consul to Arkhangelsk.

The Norwegian General Consulate in Arkhangelsk was shut down in 1938 after a dramatic political process between Norway and Russia. Since the office was closed in 1938 there have been no Norwegian consulate in Arkhangelsk.

Read More: The history of The Norwegian Consulate in Arkhangelsk

Norwegian authorities have for several years been working for a reopening of an Honorary Consulate in Arkhangelsk. Arkhangelsk was an important town for Norway during the Pomor Trade era of the 1800-century. With increased focus on High North policy both in Norway and Russia, Arkhangelsk has once again become an important city for the international relations in the North. Arkhangelsk is an important city for the Russian maritime industry, the Arkhangelsk University has a central role in Russian research on the High North. In addition, the Norwegian Barents Secretariat has established a broad span of contacts in the city through the information office, which have been headed by Shalyov.

The opening of the Honorary Consulat will be on September 17th. It will be hosted by the Norwegian General Consulat in Murmansk, which the office will be subordinated to. Shalyov will continue his work for the Norwegian Barents Secretariat and combine this work with the duties as Honorary Consul.