Russia has summoned Norway’s chargé d’affaires in Moscow to protest the seizure of a Russian research vessel and five state-owned properties in Norway.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said it summoned Norwegian diplomat Bjorn Svenungsen on Tuesday and lodged a formal protest over what it described as continued seizures of Russian assets at the request of Ukrainian companies.
The dispute centres on the Russian research vessel Professor Molchanov, which Norwegian authorities detained on September 2 at the port of Barentsburg in the Svalbard archipelago. The seizure followed a request by Ukraine’s state-owned energy company Naftogaz and other Ukrainian businesses.
A Norwegian court rejected an appeal filed by Russia’s state-owned Arktikugol Trust on October 28, potentially extending the legal proceedings for several months.
Moscow warned that keeping the vessel in Arctic winter conditions could cause mechanical failure and serious environmental damage. It also claimed that the detention had disrupted transportation of Russian personnel and essential supplies to Svalbard.
Russia further protested the seizure of five Russian properties in Oslo on September 22.
The dispute relates to Naftogaz’s efforts to recover $4.2 billion in compensation awarded through international arbitration over assets seized following Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea.
Moscow has demanded compliance with international law and pledged to pursue the release of its seized assets.
