Russian vessel arrested in Norway following Naftogaz claim
Norwegian authorities have arrested the Russian vessel Professor Molchanov in the Svalbard archipelago following a claim by NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine to enforce an arbitration award against the Russian Federation, the aggressor state. Under the court’s decision, the vessel may not leave its berth, and the Governor of Svalbard must take measures to prevent its movement.
Court decision
As Anadolu Agency reports, citing Naftogaz, the arrest was ordered on August 31 by the Nord-Troms and Senja District Court. The measure is intended to ensure compliance with Russia’s outstanding obligations under an arbitration award worth about $4.22 billion, as well as interest and costs.
The arbitration award concerns the expropriation of Naftogaz’s assets and those of other group companies in Ukraine’s Crimea, temporarily occupied by Russia. The company noted that this award had previously been recognized as enforceable in Norway.
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Vessel in Barentsburg
According to the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation NRK, Professor Molchanov was arrested in the port of Barentsburg. The vessel belongs to the Russian Federation and is used for commercial expedition cruises, including to Svalbard.
According to Norway’s vessel-tracking system, the vessel arrived in Longyearbyen on Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. local time. The Governor of Svalbard, Lars Fause, told NRK that the authorities would assist people affected by the arrest and facilitate the return of crew members and passengers to Russia.
According to Fause, the matter is planned to be resolved locally through cooperation and dialogue with the authorities of Barentsburg, while foreign policy matters will be referred to Oslo. Naftogaz stated that Norwegian authorities are taking care of the passengers on board.
