Norway seizes Russian ship over US$4.2 billion claim by Ukrainian energy firm
Norway had seized a Russian ship in the Arctic to enforce a US$4.22 billion compensation claim won by Ukrainian energy firm Naftogaz over Moscow’s seizure of its assets when Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, officials said late on Wednesday. The vessel, the Professor Molchanov, was seized off the Norwegian Arctic archipelago of Svalbard, according to Covington, the US law firm representing Naftogaz.…
Norway seized the Russian vessel Professor Molchanov in the Arctic to collect a US$4.22 billion compensation claim from Ukrainian energy firm Naftogaz. The seizure occurred off the Svalbard archipelago, where the ship had docked with a Russian scientific expedition on Tuesday. The Russian Foreign Ministry called the action "piracy," but Naftogaz has pursued the claim since 2016 over the annexation of Crimea.
The Svalbard governor confirmed the ship's seizure and stated the crew and passengers would be cared for. Naftogaz has previously seized two Trust Arktikugol properties in the region but faces legal challenges from Russia. The matter is a legal dispute between Naftogaz and Russia, not involving Norway.
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Also reported by 4 other outlets
- Norway Seizes Russian Ship to Enforce $4.2Bln Claim by Ukraine’s Naftogaz themoscowtimes.com
- Norway seizes Russian ship to enforce $4.2 billion claim by Ukrainian energy firm jpost.com
- Norway seizes Russian vessel to enforce $4.22B Ukrainian arbitration claim apnews.com
- Norway seizes Russian ship in Arctic over Crimea compensation claim aljazeera.com
