The Russian Foreign Ministry said it is seeking the lifting of the arrest on the vessel «Professor Molchanov»

The Russian Foreign Ministry and the competent agencies will seek the lifting of the arrest on the vessel “Professor Molchanov”, the Russian foreign ministry said. Moscow also said that the Russian side categorically does not accept the arrest of the vessel and Norway’s actions, which it considers aimed at restricting Russia’s lawful presence in the archipelago.

The ministry added that the Norwegian ambassador was informed of this and that Oslo was demanded to unconditionally comply with international law, including the provisions and spirit of the Svalbard Treaty. The Russian Foreign Ministry, the Russian Embassy in Norway, and the Russian Consulate General in Svalbard, it said, are in close contact with Russian organizations and Norwegian authorities.

It was also reported there that the crew and passengers of “Professor Molchanov” are receiving the necessary consular, legal, and other assistance. The Governor of Svalbard, by order of the Nord-Troms District Court, arrested the Russian vessel docked in Barentsburg in Svalbard the day before.

On August 31, the district court ordered the vessel arrested at the request of Naftogaz, filed as part of the company’s effort to recover funds after the loss of its Crimean assets in 2014. The vessel has been ordered to remain in Barentsburg until another decision by the Governor of Svalbard or the Nord-Troms District Court.

The home port of “Professor Molchanov” is Arkhangelsk. Since June 2025, the vessel has been operating regular cargo-passenger routes from Murmansk to Barentsburg.

Sources

• Interfax