Norway's Ministry of Foreign Affairs demands that Russia provide explanations regarding Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin's visit to Svalbard, also Spitzbergen, a Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic Ocean.
BarentsObserver reported this late on Saturday evening, referring to Head of Communication with the Norwegian Foreign Ministry Frode Andersen, according to TSN.ua.
"We have clearly expressed to the Russian Embassy in Oslo that listed people [with Rogozin being among them] are not wanted on Svalbard," Andersen said.
On Saturday, Rogozin posted on Twitter a photo of himself taken just outside the terminal building at Longyearbyen airport.
Прибыли в Лонгиер на Шпицберген pic.twitter.com/OfSHBhelnC
— Dmitry Rogozin (@Rogozin) 18 Квітень 2015Norway said it would now consider reinforced measures regarding entry to Svalbard.
Former Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt later tweeted that Rogozin had visited Svalbard on his way to the North Pole as part of an expedition.
Russia Deputy PM @DRogozin suddenly turns up on Norwegian Svalbard. In spite of visa ban. On his way to the North Pole.
— Carl Bildt (@carlbildt) 19 Квітень 2015