Norwegian authorities have rejected the permission of a Russian mining company to transport goods to the territory of Svalbard through the mainland of the country. It is reported by NRK.

According to the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a specific application for a transport permit was rejected as early as June 15.

20 tons of Russian goods "

The application was filed by the mining company Trust Arktikugol and the Russian Embassy sent a letter to the Norwegian Foreign Ministry, asking for an exemption from sanctions. Russians' letter says they fear a humanitarian crisis if goods are not allowed through Storskog. However, the Norwegian Foreign Ministry said that the same laws apply in Barentsburg as in the rest of Svalbard..

Consul General of the Russian Federation Sergey Gushchev said that the situation is stable and Russian diplomats are working on obtaining benefits for goods "

Russian cargo previously arrived in Svalbard from Murmansk to Tromso by trucks through the only Storskog checkpoint on the Russian-Norwegian border.

Cargo is delivered to the islands by the only cargo ship, Bring, which leaves for the archipelago every 10 days.. About 500 people live in Barentsburg, including miners working in the coal mines of the Russian Arktikugol.

Norway is not a member of the EU, but is part of the European Economic Area, and has also joined all six packages of sanctions imposed against Russia due to the invasion of Ukraine.

Recall that a similar situation has developed with the Russian Kaliningrad. From June 18, Vilnius restricted the transit of goods subject to EU sanctions to Kaliningrad. Among them are construction materials, cement and metals..

The Kremlin called the decision illegal and responded with a series of exercises by the Baltic Fleet and ground units that trained twice a week to fire from Grad and Uragan launchers.. The European Commission is ready to allow the transit of Russian goods to Kaliningrad, "