Norway Seizes Russian Vessel for Ukraine

The Russian vessel Professor Molchanov has been seized in Norway’s Arctic Svalbard archipelago following a ruling by the Nord-Troms and Senja District Court. Norway’s Justice Ministry stressed that the government was not involved and that the case was a legal dispute between Ukrainian energy company Naftogaz and Russia.

Naftogaz is seeking $4.22bn in compensation for assets expropriated by Moscow following its annexation of Crimea in 2014. The amount, plus interest and costs, was awarded to the company by an arbitration tribunal in The Hague in April 2023.

Naftogaz’s lawyers had tracked Professor Molchanov, a Russian state-owned vessel used for commercial expedition cruises, for several months. Before its arrival in Svalbard, they asked the court to seize the ship as part of efforts to enforce the award.

The court approved the request on 31 August and ordered the governor of Svalbard to enforce it. The vessel must remain in the Russian settlement of Barentsburg until the governor or court decides otherwise.

No one on board was arrested and the seizure does not apply to the crew or passengers. Local authorities are looking after them in cooperation with the Russian company Trust Arktikugol.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry described the seizure as “piracy”. Naftogaz is pursuing Russian assets in several other countries, including the US, France, the UK and Finland.

(Reuters, bak)