The Russian Ambassador reported on Norway's creation of difficulties for Russia's activities in Svalbard

The Norwegian authorities are seeking to strengthen their sovereignty over the Svalbard archipelago, which makes it difficult for Russia to conduct scientific and economic activities there. This was stated on June 29 by Russian Ambassador to Oslo Nikolai Korchunov in an interview with RIA Novosti.

"Recently, the Norwegian authorities have been taking steps to strengthen their sovereignty over the archipelago [Svalbard] in a way that creates additional difficulties for Russian scientific and economic activities there," Korchunov said.

According to him, the current contacts with Norway on Svalbard are pragmatic and are carried out mainly at the level of the Norwegian leadership of the archipelago.

"It should be noted that Norway, with some exceptions, has joined all EU sectoral and personal sanctions, which clearly contradicts the Svalbard Treaty," the ambassador stressed.

The diplomat noted that such a policy of the Norwegian leadership puts Russian economists and scientists in a "discriminated position."

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The day before, Korchunov said that the Norwegian authorities were interested in increasing their military presence and intensifying NATO exercises near the border with Russia. According to him, the most obvious pull-up of NATO troops to the north of the country and to the Arctic is carried out with empty assurances from Oslo of its alleged continued commitment to maintain low tensions in high latitudes.