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In a letter, dated September 18, the Governor of Svalbard gave a three week deadline to demolish the cross, alternatively appeal the decision. The order is addressed to Trust Arcticugol, the mining company that is the Russian state’s extended arm at the Norwegian archipelago.
It was bishop Iyakov of Naryan-Mar and Mezen that led the ceremony to erect the giant orthodox cross in Pyramiden, a Soviet ghost-town at Svalbard. The bishop is well-known for pushing Russia’s geopolitical ambitions in the Arctic by blessing polar outposts together with leaders of military and security structures.
Bishop Iyakov devoted his Svalbard cross to Georgy the Victorious, the saint seen in Russia as the protector of soldiers.
To underline the military message, a propagandistic St. Georg’s Ribbon decorated the cross. This ribbon is today a strong symbol of supporters of the Russian war against Ukraine.
UnlawfulSvalbard’s environmental protection and cultural act is strict and the Governor’s office underlines that erection of such cross is not allowed without prior approval. “Trust Arcticugol is ordered to remove the cross that has been erected without permission in a cultural heritage, nature and outdoor area (KNF area) north of the harbor in Pyramiden,” the letter concludes.
In his appeal letter dated October 2, obtained by the Barents Observer, director Ildar Neverov draws historical lines back to the 16th century when the Pomors [Russian settlers living on the White Sea coasts] started to erect crosses along Arctic shipping lanes.
“Especially many crosses were on the shores of Spitsbergen [Russian name of Svalbard, not to be confused with the Island Spitsbergen] in the 18th and 19th centuries. We have information about 46 crossed from the time,” Ildar Neverov writes to fuel his argument that the new orthodox cross has a historic and cultural value.
He underlines that this memorial has an “increased importance since the Orthodox cross is a symbol of Christianity and the entire orthodox world”.
“It is tribute and an expression of honor to the discoverers of Spitsbergen and the polar explorers in the Arctic,” Neverov concludes and calls on the Governor of Svalbard to cancel the decision on demolishing the cross, that is made of oak wood from Northwest-Russia.
The disputed cross mirrors Russia’s growing unsatisfaction with Norway’s ruling of Arctic archipelago.
At the 100-years anniversary of the Svalbard Treaty in 2020, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov sent a letter to Norwegian counterpart Ine Eriksen Søreide strongly signaling that Russia feels discriminated. Lavrov called for “bilateral consultations on the removal of limitations for Russian activity and structures on the archipelago.”
Eriksen Søreide replied and made clear “Svalbard is part of Norway [and] it is not natural that we consult with other countries about the execution of powers in our won areas.”
