Russia has sent a note of protest to the Norwegian ambassador to Moscow over the detention of Russian fishing vessel near the Svalbard archipelago, where maritime borders between the two countries remain undemarcated, Russian Foreign Ministry said on Friday.
“Norwegian Ambassador to Moscow Knut Hauge was sent a note of protest after the Norwegian Coast Guard had detained Russian fishing vessel Sapphire 2 on September 28 in the so-called “fishery conservation zone” in the Svalbard archipelago,” the Ministry said in a statement. “Norway’s action is inadmissible and offending.”
Norwegians, who blame Russian fishermen for discarding fish from the vessel, escorted the ship to the Norwegian port of Troms for investigations.
Moscow demanded an immediate release of the vessel.