Recently, the Norwegian authorities have significantly tightened the working conditions of Russian organizations in the Svalbard archipelago and in its waters. The measures introduced by the Norwegian side in violation of the principles and provisions of the Svalbard Treaty of 1920 already affect all the main areas on which the long–standing Russian presence in the archipelago, implemented in full compliance with international law, is based – coal mining, tourism, science.
One of the latest examples. In December of this year, the Norwegian authorities imposed unlawful restrictions on the performance of research work by the Russian vessel “Dalniye Zelentsy”, owned by the Murmansk Marine Biological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences (MMBI RAS). In the area of the archipelago, Russian scientists planned to conduct comprehensive studies of marine ecosystems in accordance with the program officially registered in the Norwegian database Research in Svalbard, extended until the end of 2023.
In addition, the Russian vessel, despite the timely sending of the relevant notification to the Norwegian side about its entry, is actually denied access to the Russian village of Barentsburg. At the same time, the MMBI RAS biogeostation has been located in the village for more than 10 years, the further work of which is now significantly hindered due to Norwegian discriminatory measures.
Considering that the MMBI studies conducted annually were previously successfully coordinated by the Norwegian side, we consider the restrictions introduced this year to be exclusively politically motivated. Regular statements by Norwegian officials and military experts indicate that Oslo preferred to succumb to anti-Russian hysteria to the detriment of fulfilling its international legal obligations.
One of the most important provisions of the Svalbard Treaty is ignored – the right of equally free access of citizens of its member states to the archipelago for any purpose and task. We remind you that it is under these conditions that Norway’s sovereignty over the archipelago is recognized by the countries participating in the Treaty, including the Russian Federation.
Such a discriminatory approach is categorically unacceptable. The Russian position with the appropriate arguments has been repeatedly brought to the Norwegian side through official channels.
We will continue to defend the legitimate interests of the Russian presence in the Svalbard archipelago, to ensure respect for the rights of domestic organizations, including representatives of science, their unhindered access to Svalbard to conduct legitimate activities there from the point of view of the 1920 Treaty.
A source: https://www.mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/news/1846076/
