Norway seizes Russian research vessel to enforce Ukrainian compensation claim

cross-posted from: https://scribe.disroot.org/post/11100074

• Norway ​has seized a Russian ship in the Arctic to enforce a $4.22 billion compensation claim won by Ukrainian energy firm Naftogaz over Moscow's seizure of its assets when Russia annexed Crimea in 2014.
• Naftogaz has been pursuing Russia since 2016 to seek compensation for the expropriation of its property in Crimea. A tribunal in The Hague in April 2023 ordered ​Russia to pay Naftogaz $4.22 billion plus interest and legal costs.
• The Svalbard governor's office reportedly issued a statement confirming that ⁠the ship had been seized and would be held on Svalbard, adding: "The governor will take care of the crew and passengers on board the vessel in collaboration with Trust Arktikugol".

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The Governor of Svalbard, a Norwegian archipelago, confirmed that under court authority, they have today, September 2, taken control of the Russian research vessel turned cruise ship, Professor Molchanov. The vessel is being held on behalf of the Ukrainian state-owned energy company Naftogaz, which has been pursuing claims against Russia for compensation for assets lost during the annexation of Crimea in 2014.

Naftogaz received an award in April 2023 from a tribunal in the Hague, which was valued at approximately $4.22 billion, plus interest and costs. It had started the action in 2016 for the value of the company’s assets in Crimea. Since then, Naftogaz has been doggedly chasing the Russian Federation and attempting to enforce its claim in jurisdictions ranging from the United States to the UK, France, and Finland. A Dutch court confirmed the enforceability of the award in late 2024. Naftogaz had also taken its claim into the Norwegian courts.

The Nord-Troms District Court in Norway issued its ruling on August 31, granting Naftogaz’s claim to seize the Professor Molchanov. The governor was instructed to act as bailiff and, as of September 2, seized the ship, which was in the Svalbard region as part of its normal operations.

The Professor Molchanov was instructed to dock in Barentsburg, a coal town operated by a Russian company, which is also the second-largest settlement in Svalbard. The governor said they would be taking care of the passengers and crew aboard the vessel in collaboration with Trust Arcticgul, the Russian state-owned company that operates the mine.

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