“Obviously, Oslo just didn’t think well enough that by banning land transit, Norway also prohibits the admission of goods to Svalbard, which, in fact, indirectly violates the spirit of the 1920 Svalbard Treaty, which spells out the principle of non-discrimination in the provision of goods, including to citizens , legal entities of the contracting parties in Svalbard, ”he said on the air of Rossiya 24.
His words are quoted by RIA Novosti.
Earlier, Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council of Russia Konstantin Kosachev said that Norway's refusal to allow cargo for Russian settlements on Svalbard to pass is immoral and violates human rights.
He noted that by such actions, Oslo also violates the provisions of the Paris Treaty of 1920.
The Svalbard archipelago in the Arctic Ocean belongs to Norway, but, according to the special status of the region, Russia also conducts economic activities here.
Russians live and work in the village of Barentsburg.
Two more settlements - Pyramiden and Grumant - are now mothballed.