Norway has helped 69 Russian passengers and crew return home after they were stranded in Svalbard following the seizure of the cruise ship Professor Molchanov.
The stranded crew and passengers returned to Russia on Tuesday, Sept. 8, through the Norwegian town of Kirkenes, the governor of the Svalbard archipelago said.
A Norwegian court had ordered the seizure of the ship at the request of Ukrainian energy company Naftogaz.
The company is seeking to enforce a $4.22 billion compensation award over assets Russia took when it annexed Crimea in 2014.
Russia plans to appeal the arrest of the Professor Molchanov. The case has also led to new tensions between Moscow and Oslo, with the Russian Foreign Ministry summoning the Norwegian ambassador in Moscow last week to deliver a strong protest.
Norwegian authorities provided logistical help to get the 69 Russians home. Russian diplomats also helped with their return, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.
“As far as we
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