Norway aligns with EU, sanctions 2 Russian fishing companies

​​​​​​​By Melike Pala

BRUSSELS (AA) - The Norwegian government announced its decision to sanction two Russian fishing companies, aligning itself with the EU’s recent sanctions.

"Recently we have seen increasingly aggressive Russian hybrid campaigns against allied nations. This trend is expected to continue," Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said in a statement Monday.

He said the two companies, Norebo JSC and Murman Seafood, are involved in Russian state-sponsored intelligence activities that are threatening Norwegian and allied maritime areas.

"Such activity may facilitate future sabotage operations and threaten important Norwegian security policy interests," he said.

The sanctions include freezing the companies' assets and banning their ships from Norwegian ports and territorial waters. Licenses for fishing in Norway's economic zone will not be granted to vessels from those companies.

The listings will soon be implemented into Norwegian law, reinforcing Norway's commitment to cooperate closely with the EU and allied nations to protect critical infrastructure.

The move follows the EU's adoption of restrictive measures on May 20 targeting entities involved in Russian hybrid activities, including espionage and sabotage efforts.