Norway Seizes Russian Research Vessel at Ukraine's "Naftogaz" Request
Russian Media: Norway Detains Russian Vessel in Svalbard, Ukraine Behind the Scenes
At the request of Ukraine’s state-owned energy company “Naftogaz,” Norwegian authorities seized the Russian research vessel "Professor Molchanov." The news was announced on August 2 via the official website of the Governor of Svalbard.
The statement read: “The regional court has ordered the vessel to remain docked at a location designated by the Governor, and decided to detain it in Longyearbyen until further orders from either the Governor or the Nord-Troms Regional Court.”
According to Norway’s Evening Mail (Dagens Næringsliv), the Russian vessel had previously been used for commercial expedition cruises, including routes to the Svalbard archipelago. The report also noted that passenger safety is under the responsibility of Norwegian authorities.
Further Reading: Russian Commercial Ships Continuously Intercepted by Nordic Countries Recently
On August 18, Russian Ambassador to Sweden Sergey Belyaev revealed that Swedish authorities had detained five cargo ships, several of which carried Russian crew members. Among the detained vessels was the dry cargo ship "Adler," flying the Russian flag, which was later released. Swedish enforcement agencies admitted they lacked sufficient grounds for detaining the ship.
On July 26, Russian President Vladimir Putin demanded a firm response to any attempts to seize Russian tankers, equating such actions to piracy. The head of state also expressed hope that the Russian Navy could effectively protect the nation’s merchant fleet.
Original Article: toutiao.com/article/1875271075005448/
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