Russian ship seizure: Moscow summons Norway envoy

Russia's foreign ministry said Thursday it summoned Norway's ambassador after Norwegian authorities seized the Russian vessel Professor Molchanov in the Arctic at the request of Ukrainian state energy group Naftogaz.

The ministry said ambassador Heidi Olufsen was called in for a “strong protest” over the seizure. It said Russia “categorically rejects” the seizure of the Professor Molchanov and what it called Norway's recent actions aimed at curtailing Russia's presence on the Svalbard archipelago.

The governor of Svalbard announced the seizure on Wednesday, citing an August 31 court order. The ship is at the quay in Barentsburg, a Russian-operated mining settlement in Svalbard, pending a new decision by the governor or by Norwegian courts.

Naftogaz is seeking $4.2 billion from Russia as compensation for the seizure of its assets after Moscow's 2014 annexation of Crimea. A Hague-based arbitration tribunal ruled in favour of the Ukrainian company in 2023, and Norway recognises the ruling.

The Russian embassy in Norway condemned the seizure as “a politically motivated violation of international law” and said it would appeal. “We demand the immediate release of the vessel and that the safety of the passengers and crew be ensured,” the embassy said in an email to AFP.

Norwegian authorities said they are not a party to the case. Frank Lynum, a spokesperson for Norway's justice ministry, said the Svalbard governor is responsible for enforcing court decisions and is obliged to implement the court's ruling. He said the issue was handled “in the ordinary way by the Norwegian courts”.

The Professor Molchanov is a research vessel mainly used for expedition cruises. The Russian embassy said that because of sanctions imposed by Norway after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the seized vessel is the only supply channel for Russian settlements in Svalbard.

Svalbard is governed by a 1920 treaty that recognises Norwegian sovereignty while giving nationals of contracting parties equal rights to exploit natural resources there. Oslo says treaty rights do not exempt foreign nationals or companies from Norwegian laws and regulations.