Russia claims that Norway has placed Russians on Svalbard under blockade. It is a serious accusation. Will the Russians do anything to break it? Meanwhile, the Norwegian authorities, for their part, insist that they are not a party to the case.

– Against the background of Norway’s restrictive measures against Russia on Spitsbergen, introduced in violation of international law, Russian organisations and citizens operating on the archipelago have in practice been placed under blockade, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs wrote on the messaging service Telegram on Friday.

It becomes even more serious when Moscow claims that Norway has violated the Svalbard Treaty and that Russian citizens on Svalbard are being discriminated against.

The response from the Foreign Ministry’s press spokesman, Andreas Bjørklund, is a complete non sequitur.

– Svalbard is part of the Kingdom of Norway. Norway’s exercise of authority is in accordance with our international obligations, including the Svalbard Treaty.

The Foreign Ministry talks about provisions, supplies and safety. Russia talks about principles.

– The Norwegian authorities are doing what we can to safeguard Russian citizens who have now found themselves in a difficult situation on Svalbard, he adds.

But the question is not whether the Russians on board the Professor Moltsjanov are getting what they need. It is whether the Norwegian authorities have committed an offence against them and Russia.

Nord-Troms and Senja District Court issued the order to seize the ship on Wednesday, 31 August. Justice Ministry spokesman Frank Lynum managed on Thursday to say that this happened without Russia being informed. That is criticism directed squarely at the Foreign Ministry’s handling of the matter.

The District Court made its decision without informing Russia first, according to Lynum.

– In his role as enforcement officer, the Governor of Svalbard has followed up what Nord-Troms and Senja District Court has decided, he adds.

Given the sensitive role Svalbard plays in Norwegian security policy, it is almost inconceivable.

– Will assist
Professor Moltsjanov has sailed several times between Barentsburg and Murmansk this season, according to Barents Observer. It is operated by the Russian authorities and is described as a research vessel.

The Governor of Svalbard will assist in getting the crew and passengers back to Russia, he tells NRK.

Fause tells TV 2 that there has also been dialogue with the leadership in Barentsburg since the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

– I hope we can reap the benefits of that now, and that even in difficult times we can maintain the dialogue we have. We have had good talks today and constructive dialogue with the leadership in Barentsburg, he says.

– Piracy
Besides Putin, several other representatives of the Russian authorities have also used strong words about the seizure of the ship.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova calls the seizure of the ship «piracy», Tass writes.

Aleksej Tsjekunkov, Russia’s Minister for the Development of the Arctic and the Russian Far East, believes the incident is «yet another example of the legal nihilism and lawlessness of Western countries», according to the Interfax news agency.

Ukraine’s Naftogaz, for its part, calls the seizure of the ship an important step towards securing redress following Russia’s unlawful seizure of the company’s assets. (NTB)