Norway seizes Russian ship

Norwegian authorities have seized a Russian ship at the request of the Ukrainian state energy company Naftogaz. In a statement, Naftogaz reported that the Russian commercial exploration and passenger vessel named "Professor Molchanov" was seized in Barentsburg, a mining settlement operated by Russia in Norway's Svalbard Archipelago.

According to the statement from Naftogaz, the seizure order was issued on August 31 by Norway's Nord-Troms and Senja District Court to ensure that Russia fulfills its obligations arising from an international arbitration ruling. Under the court order, the ship is prohibited from leaving its current location. It was reported that the Governor of Svalbard has been tasked with taking the necessary measures to prevent the vessel from moving.

"Russia cannot evade responsibility by refusing to comply with an international arbitration ruling"

Naftogaz CEO Sergii Fedorenko stated, "Russia cannot evade responsibility by refusing to comply with an international arbitration ruling. We will continue to track Russian assets around the world until the compensation awarded to Naftogaz and other Naftogaz Group companies is paid."

Naftogaz noted that it is continuing its efforts to enforce the arbitration ruling with judicial authorities in various countries, including the US, France, the UK, and Finland, where Russian assets have been frozen.

Meanwhile, Russia has challenged the process, arguing that it was not notified of the intervention.

"The ship operated voyages between Murmansk and Barentsburg"

Reports in the Norwegian press noted that the ship had recently been conducting voyages between the Russian city of Murmansk and Barentsburg. It was also stated that the vessel, which was built 43 years ago as an ocean research ship, was later repurposed for commercial exploration and passenger voyages.

Russia had seized Naftogaz assets in Crimea

In April 2023, an arbitration tribunal in The Hague ordered Russia to pay the Ukrainian company 4.22 billion dollars, plus interest and legal costs, for Naftogaz assets that Russia seized following its annexation of Crimea in 2014. Moscow has not yet made the payment in question.

Naftogaz has been pursuing legal action against Russia since 2016 due to the company's assets in the region being seized when Russia annexed Crimea in 2014.

News Source: 12punto