Norway detains Russian vessel in Svalbard at Naftogaz request

Norwegian authorities have seized a Russian commercial vessel in Svalbard at the request of Ukraine’s state-owned energy company Naftogaz to enforce the $4.22 billion arbitration award against Russia for assets seized in Crimea Norwegian media reported.

The Nord – Troms and Senja District Court seized the vessel Professor Molchanov on Aug. 31 and the Governor of Svalbard enforced the order on Wednesday, Norwegian authorities said. The ship, which is used for commercial expedition cruises, has been ordered to stay in Barentsburg and is not allowed to leave its current location.

Norway’s Justice Ministry said the district court had acted on a request from Naftogaz and that the move was based on a valid Norwegian court decision. Norwegian and international media reports say Russian could appeal the decision.

In 2023, an arbitration award in The Hague ordered Russia to pay Naftogaz some $4.22 billion, plus interest and costs, for the unlawful seizure of the company’s assets in Crimea following Russia’s annexation of the peninsula in 2014.

Naftogaz Acting CEO Sergii Fedorenko said, “Russia cannot evade responsibility simply by refusing to comply with an international arbitral award.”

The company would continue to pursue Russian assets around the world until the compensation was paid, he said.