Russian billionare takes tiny Norwegian newspaper to court in London

Russian fisheries billionaire Vitaly Orlov has launched a 100‑page lawsuit in the High Court of London against The Barents Observer, a six‑person non‑profit newsroom in Kirkenes, over five reports from 2025-26 about his company Norebo and the EU/Norwegian sanctions imposed on it. The claim alleges reputational harm, seeks removal of the stories from circulation in England, a ban on similar future reporting, and damages; Orlov’s lawyers say the sanctions decision rests on reporting across multiple outlets and that the coverage has had consequences beyond its readership. The contested coverage centers on allegations in the EU sanctions package linking certain fishing trawlers’ movement patterns to state‑sponsored surveillance and potential sabotage, and includes reporting on port denials and Norway’s ban of Norebo vessels. Editors have 35 days to respond.

The case threatens to bankrupt the tiny outlet: editors Atle Staalesen and Thomas Nilsen say legal costs already run into millions of kroner, that the complaint was hand‑delivered from London, and that Orlov’s team may be using financial pressure to force withdrawal. Media lawyers describe the lawsuit as a textbook SLAPP - a wealthy actor using litigation to intimidate critical journalism - while Orlov’s lawyers reject that label and insist he seeks apology and damages for false assertions. The campaign also included preemptive letters to other Norwegian fisheries media and sits alongside separate legal actions by Norebo against Norway and the EU; the paper has a decade‑long history of being targeted and some staff are wanted by Russian authorities.