World · Europe · 1 day ago
Russia protests Norway over seizures of Russian property
Russia lodged a protest with Norway on November 3 over court-ordered seizures of Russian property requested by Ukrainian companies.
The research vessel Professor Molchanov has been held in Barentsburg on the Svalbard archipelago since September 2.
A Norwegian court rejected an appeal on October 28, and Russia warned that the vessel may be damaged if it remains through the Arctic winter.
Russia says the ship was the only direct transport for Russian staff and supplies to Svalbard after flights between Russia and the archipelago stopped.
Norway's courts also seized five Russian properties in Oslo on September 22; Moscow says the measures breach international law, while the seizures followed requests from Ukrainian companies.
Russia says it will seek to have the seizures lifted, and its consul general is assisting the crew members still aboard the vessel.
Russia summoned Norway’s chargé d’affaires on November 3 to protest the seizure of Russian property at the request of Ukrainian companies.
The seized property includes the research vessel Professor Molchanov and five Russian real estate properties in Oslo.
The vessel was seized on September 2 and remains at the port of Barentsburg on the Svalbard archipelago.
Russia says the vessel is vital for transporting workers and supplies to Svalbard and warns that winter mooring could damage it and harm the environment.
Norwegian courts have rejected an appeal against the seizure, which is linked to a $4.2 billion arbitration award to Ukraine’s Naftogaz.
- Who
- Russia’s Foreign Ministry protested to Norway’s chargé d’affaires in Moscow, Bjorn Svenungsen.
- What
- Russia objected to the seizure of the research vessel Professor Molchanov and five Russian properties.
- When
- November 3, 2026.
- Where
- The vessel is at Barentsburg on the Svalbard archipelago; the five properties are in Oslo.
- Why
- The seizures were made at the request of Ukrainian companies. Russia says they violate international law and wants the property released.
Russia
Norwegian authorities
Legal basis
Russia
Russia says Norway must comply with international law, including the Svalbard Treaty and conventions on diplomatic relations and state property.
Norwegian authorities
Norwegian courts ordered the seizures at the request of Ukrainian companies; the vessel seizure enforces a court-ordered arbitration award to Naftogaz.
Consequences
Russia
Russia warns that keeping the vessel in winter conditions could cause it to fail and harm the environment, and says its seizure impedes access to Svalbard.
Norwegian authorities
Not stated
A Hague-based arbitration court ordered Russia to compensate Naftogaz for assets expropriated during the 2014 annexation of Crimea.
A Norwegian court ordered the seizure of the Professor Molchanov at Barentsburg at the request of Naftogaz and other Ukrainian enterprises.
A Norwegian court ordered the seizure of five Russian properties in Oslo.
The District Court of Northern Troms and Senja dismissed Arktikugol’s appeal against the vessel’s seizure.
Russia summoned Norway’s chargé d’affaires and lodged a protest over the seizures.
- Vessel
- Professor Molchanov research ship
- Vessel location
- Port of Barentsburg, Svalbard
- Seizure date
- September 2
- Russian properties
- Five real estate properties in Oslo
- Arbitration award
- $4.2 billion for Naftogaz
- Norwegian court appeal ruling
- October 28
3 sources
What people are saying
The Russian Foreign Ministry and the Russian competent authorities will seek to lift the arrests of Russian property.
demanded that official Oslo unconditionally comply with international law, including the provisions of the Svalbard Treaty
prolonged winter hibernation of a watercraft unsuitable for this purpose, taking into account the severe climatic and weather conditions of the Arctic, is fraught with its failure and serious consequences for the environment