Norwegian authorities have assisted 69 Russian citizens in leaving the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and returning to Russia after the vessel they were traveling on was placed under court-ordered seizure. The passengers and crew members traveled through Norway before crossing the border into Russia, while the ship remains detained in the Svalbard settlement of Barentsburg.
69 Russians Return to Russia via Norway
The group left Svalbard on Tuesday and traveled through the Norwegian town of Kirkenes before crossing into Russia. Norwegian authorities said the return was arranged through cooperation with Russian representatives and was carried out in an orderly manner.
The passengers had been staying in accommodation in Barentsburg after they were unable to continue their journey aboard the Professor Molchanov, which was detained earlier this month.
The vessel remains under arrest in Barentsburg while the legal proceedings continue.
Why Was the Professor Molchanov Seized?
The Russian vessel was seized on September 2 following a Norwegian court order linked to a claim by Ukraine’s state-owned energy company Naftogaz.
Naftogaz is seeking to enforce a $4.22 billion compensation award related to Russian seizures of the company’s assets in Crimea following Russia’s 2014 annexation of the peninsula.
The legal action is part of Ukraine’s broader effort to recover compensation by pursuing Russian assets in other jurisdictions. Russia has rejected the ruling and said it intends to challenge the decision.
Svalbard Dispute Raises Russia-Norway Tensions
The incident has added another point of friction between Moscow and NATO member Norway. Russia strongly protested the seizure, with officials accusing Norway of acting unlawfully and describing the move as “piracy.”
Svalbard is Norwegian territory but operates under the 1920 Svalbard Treaty, which grants citizens and businesses from treaty-signatory countries, including Russia, certain rights to live and operate there. Barentsburg is one of the Russian communities on the Arctic archipelago.
While the 69 Russian citizens have now returned home, the fate of the Professor Molchanov remains tied to the ongoing legal dispute.
