The Russian government has formally accused Norway of committing an “act of piracy” following the seizure of the Russian research vessel Professor Molchanov in Svalbard. The incident, which took place on Wednesday while the vessel was docked in Barentsburg, has further intensified existing tensions between the two nations regarding a complex legal dispute involving the Ukrainian energy company Naftogaz.
According to the Governor of Svalbard, the seizure was carried out after the Nord-Troms District Court granted Naftogaz the legal right to seize the ship. The court order is part of a broader effort by the Ukrainian energy firm to recover funds associated with assets that it claims were expropriated by Russia during the 2014 conflict. Under the current mandate, the vessel is required to remain in Barentsburg until further notice from the court or the governor.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova addressed the seizure on Thursday while attending the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok. She characterized the event as a “horrifying” example of the “degradation” of international relations. Zakharova argued that the action represents a departure from long-standing maritime law, which she stated has been the guiding principle for maritime affairs for decades. According to her, international norms are currently being discarded in favor of what she described as “genuine piracy.”
This development marks another chapter in the strained relationship between Russia and Western countries, as disagreements over property rights, sanctions, and legal claims continue to escalate in the wake of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
