The 69 Russian passengers and crew members aboard the Professor Molchanov cruise ship returned to Russia after a Norwegian court ordered its seizure last week.
Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for Russia’s Foreign Ministry, said the return was made possible with logistical support from Norway and the assistance of Russian diplomats. Zakharova said nearly all of the passengers and crew had reached Russia.
Seizure ordered at Naftogaz’s request
A court in Norway ordered the seizure of the Professor Molchanov following an application by the Ukrainian energy company Naftogaz. Norwegian authorities also helped facilitate the Russian group’s return home.
Naftogaz is seeking to enforce a $4.22 billion compensation award for assets seized by Russia during its annexation of Crimea in 2014. The ship is being held in Barentsburg, a settlement in the Svalbard archipelago operated by Russia.
Moscow invokes the Svalbard Treaty
Zakharova said the legal and diplomatic dispute over the detention of the ship had not yet been resolved. Russia argues that the seizure violates the 1920 Svalbard Treaty and plans to appeal the court’s decision.
The treaty grants countries that conduct economic activities in the archipelago equal access rights while recognizing Norwegian sovereignty over the region. Citizens of the countries that are parties to the treaty, including Russia, can settle in Svalbard without a visa under the agreement.
Svalbard, which is Norwegian territory, lies between the Arctic and mainland Europe. Barentsburg is one of the two Russian settlements in the archipelago; together with the other Russian settlement, they are home to 392 people in total.
Zakharova also argued that Norwegian authorities aim to make it more difficult for Russian businesses to operate in Svalbard and gradually reduce Russia’s presence in the archipelago.
