Norway to impose sanctions on two Russian shipping companies

Norway has listed two Russian fishing companies, Norebo JSC and Murman Seafood, in line with European Union sanctions adopted on 20th May. The Norwegian government stated that the decision supports the country’s broader security policy objectives.

'Recently we have seen increasingly aggressive Russian hybrid campaigns against allied nations. This trend is expected to continue. As a basis for the listings, the EU points to the fact that the two fishing companies Norebo JSC og Murman Seafood are part of a Russian state-sponsored surveillance campaign and intelligence activity targeting critical underwater infrastructure in Norwegian and allied maritime areas. Such activity may facilitate future sabotage operations and threaten important Norwegian security policy interests', said Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide.

Ships from the two shipping companies will lose access to Norwegian ports and territorial waters. As a general rule, licenses for fishing in the Norwegian economic zone will not be granted to vessels from the two companies.

The listing of the two shipping companies entails an obligation to freeze funds and assets belonging to, owned, held, or controlled by the entities, as well as a prohibition against making funds and assets available to or for the benefit of the listed entities.

On 20 May, the EU adopted new listings under its restrictive measures in light of Russia’s destabilizing activities, also known as the hybrid sanctions regime aimed to limit Russia’s room for maneuver by countering aggressive hybrid campaigns against allies, such as sabotage, cable cuts, cyber activities, disinformation, and attempts to undermine fundamental democratic values.

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