Leader of fishing company Vitaly Orlov sues Norway over sanctions
Orlov's fishing company Norebo has been denied access to Norwegian economic zone in connection with suspected intelligence gathering. Now, Orlov has sued Norway.
One of the largest fishing companies in Russia, Norebo, was included in the 17th Sanction Package of the European Union last spring. In June, Norway followed up by not allowing Norebo-owned vessels into Norwegian territorial waters and denied the company's vessels access to ports.
The documents, published by the European Council on May 20, 2025 states that Norebo-owned vessels have shown erratic movement patterns that are not in accordance with standard economic fishing activities.
The document also states:
"Shipping vessels owned and operated by Norebo JSC have also been equipped with technology that may be used for espionage".
Following the decision made by the European Council, Norway banned Norebo's vessels entry to Norwegian territorial waters and port facilities.
Norebo rejects intelligence operations
Norebo's Lawyer, Hallvard Østgård, explains why the fishing company is taking Norway to court. According to him, Norebo's reaction was triggered by Norway's ban that does not allow vessels into the Norwegian economic zone, which extends to 200 nautical miles from shore.
He emphatically claims a discussion between Norwegian territorial waters and Norway's economic zone. In this way Østgård shifts the focus of discussion to international waters.
"In principal, Norway stretches out 12 miles from shore, and enjoys full sovereignty in these territorial waters. However, the restrictions in the Russian-Norwegian fishing agreement do not include the waters outside of this 12-mile zone", he argues.
The European Council however, states that "The movement patterns align with malign objectives, such as repeatedly being in the vicinity of or loitering near critical infrastructure and military sites".
"How does Norebo react to EU's assumption that their vessels have been equipped with technology that may have been used for espionage?".
"They have rejected this statement, and have prepared a document respondig to the European Council", Østgård answers.
According to Østgård, this document is 10.000 pages long.
Sued by Russian fishing oligarch
One of the largest Russian fishing companies, Norebo, is owned by the 60-year-old Vitaly Orlov. According to Forbes, he is believed to have a fortune of $2 billion.
His fishing company, along with the company Murman Seafood, controls about 40 percent of the cod quota in the barents sea.
Undersea infrastructure
According to the European Council, the sailing patterns of the company's ships appear to be linked to a Russian state-sponsored surveillance campaign that "employs inter alia, civilian fishing trawlers, to conduct espionage missions directed against civilian and military infrastructure in the North and Baltic Sea".
In a public statement connected to Norway's sanctions against Norebo, Norwegian foreign minister Espen Barth Eide stated that the Russian hybrid campaigns against allied nations has been increasing.
According to him, Norebo is "part of a Russian state-sponsored surveillance campaign and intelligence activity targeting critical underwater infrastructure in Norwegian and allied maritime areas".
There is a network of gas pipelines, telecommunications cables and power cables that connect Norway's continental shelf to other European neighbours.
Murman Seafood is also included in the 17th Sanction Package of the European Union.
Norebo's lawsuit against Norway will be heard in Oslo City Court on January 26.
