Russia lost helicopter dispute with Norway
The Russian mining company Trust Arktikugol is by a court in Nord-Troms, Norway, sentenced to pay a 50.000 NOK corporate penalty for helicopter flights in a protected nature area on Svalbard.
The Trust Arktikugol in summer 2007 flew a film team to the Ice Bay, a protected nature area, without permission from local Norwegian authorities, BarentsObserver reported. For that, the Russians were fined 50.000 NOK. The Trust however refused to pay, arguing that the flights are not a violation of the Svalbard Treaty, and that Norway does not have monopoly rights over commercial flights in the area.
The case went to court, where Arktikugol were sentenced for violation of regulations on aviation on Svalbard, Norwegian Broadcasting Cooperation reports.
