A group of Russians who were on board a ship seized by Norway last week have returned home, Russia’s Foreign Ministry said Wednesday, as it accused authorities in Oslo of trying to push Russia out of the Norwegian Arctic archipelago of Svalbard.
The 69 Russian passengers and crew members were stuck for several days after a Norwegian court on Wednesday ordered the seizure of the Professor Molchanov, which operates as a cruise ship, at the request of the Ukrainian energy company Naftogaz.
Norwegian authorities said Tuesday that they had helped the group of Russians return home. Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova credited Oslo’s “logistical support” in their return, as well as the help of Russian diplomats.
“As far as we know, practically everyone has already returned home,” Zakharova said.
But the legal and diplomatic standoff over the seized vessel is “far from being resolved,” she warned, adding that Russia plans to appeal the arrest of the Professor Molchanov.
