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Russia accuses Norway of “piracy”

Russia accuses Norway of “piracy” after the Russian ship “Professor Molchanov” was taken into custody off Svalbard. This is reported by the Russian news agency Tass according to NRK.

The ship has now docked in Barentsburg where it will remain until further notice. There are said to be around 50 passengers and crew members on board, including correspondents for Tass.

“We will be of great help in getting the crew and passengers back to Russia,” says Governor Lars Fause to NRK.

The request came from a Ukrainian energy company.

Russia’s foreign policy spokesperson Maria Zakharova states that it will not “abandon its citizens” after the seizure, writes Dagbladet.

Norway hits back: We are not a party to the case

The seized ship “Professor Molchanov” off Svalbard is a legal matter between the Ukrainian energy company Naftogaz and Russia. This is what senior advisor Frank Lynum at the Norwegian Ministry of Justice tells NRK.

Russia accused Norway of “piracy” after the operation.

– Norway is not a party to the case, says Lynum.

He says that the seizure was made following a request from the energy company, where the district court acted as bailiff. However, Russia can request that the court in Norway reconsider the case, something they have done in a similar case, according to Lynum.