Norway returns 69 Russians stranded in Arctic after ship arrest

Norwegian authorities said Tuesday they helped repatriate 69 Russians who got stranded in the Arctic after a Russian ship was seized at the demand of Ukrainian state energy group Naftogaz. Passengers and parts of the crew of the Russian cruise ship »Professor Molchanov« have returned to their home country. Norway had fixed the ship on the island of Spitsbergen last week. A group of passengers and crew members of the "Professor Silčanov" vessel arrested on Spitzbergen crossed the Russian-Norwegian border to Murmansk and announced on Tuesday the official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Maria Zaharova. Norway helped 69 Russian citizens return home from Svalbard after their cruise ship was seized due to a legal dispute between a Ukrainian company and Russia. The incident has raised diplomatic tensions, with Russia accusing Norway of 'piracy' and threatening legal action against the vessel's seizure. The tourists on Spitzbergen and part of the crew of the detained ship Professor Silchanov successfully passed the border control and are now on their way to Murmansk. Russian diplomats and agencies have organized a complex logistical operation for the return of compatriots. People have been transported from Barenzburg by water and air to the Norwegian-Russian border and have been transferred to TASS. Evacuation has been made possible thanks to t… OSLO, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Norway said on Tuesday it has assisted 69 Russian citizens in returning to their home country from an Arctic ​island following the seizure of the small ‌cruise ship they arrived on. A Norwegian court last week ordered the seizu...