Russia demands 'immediate release' of vessel seized by Norway
A Russian vessel stays stranded in Svalbard after Norway seizes it under a court order tied to Naftogaz’s $4.2 billion Crimea compensation claim.
Norway has seized the Russian research vessel Professor Molchanov at the request of Ukraine’s state energy company, Naftogaz. The vessel was detained in the port of Barentsburg on Svalbard, a Norwegian Arctic archipelago where Russia maintains a presence. Naftogaz announced the detention on its website, citing a $4.22 billion debt Russia owes to the company under a 2023 arbitration court ruling in The Hague.
Naftogaz head Serhiy Fedorenko stated that this is a step towards justice for Russia's illegal seizure of Naftogaz assets in Crimea. The Russian government, however, opposes the seizure, calling it an example of Western "legal nihilism and lawlessness." Russia's Far East and Arctic development minister, Alexei Chekunkov, vowed to challenge the decision, asserting that Russia's presence on Svalbard dates back 95 years.
The Professor Molchanov is used for scientific research, monitoring, and supporting polar stations, among other activities. Ukraine's Naftogaz plans to seek an additional $1.37 billion from Gazprom under a separate 2023 ruling by the International Court of Arbitration in Zurich.
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