The French navy has seized another sanctioned oil tanker carrying Russian oil, the third known seizure in recent months. The ship, identified as the Tagor, was intercepted in international waters with the support of several partners, including the United Kingdom.
Sanctioned Tanker Seized by French Navy
The Tagor, a crude oil tanker registered in Madagascar, had set out from the Russian port of Umba and was tracked sailing through the North Atlantic. The ship has been sanctioned by the European Union, the UK, and the United States for its involvement in circumventing international sanctions and violating the law of the sea.
French President Emmanuel Macron posted on Twitter that the seizure was carried out “in strict compliance with the law of the sea.” He emphasized that it is unacceptable for ships to disregard international sanctions and pose a threat to the environment and everyone’s safety. The Kremlin, however, has condemned France’s action as “illegal” and “bordering on international piracy.”
Russian Crew and Captain
The captain of the Tagor is believed to be a Russian citizen, according to the Russian embassy in Paris. The embassy has requested information from French authorities regarding the presence of Russian citizens among the crew but has yet to receive a response.
France has urged a tougher Western approach towards intercepting ships carrying Russian oil in defiance of sanctions. Macron has highlighted that these ships frequently fly under false flags, are uninsured or lack safety certification, and pose a significant threat to global energy security.
Previous Seizures
In March, the French navy seized an oil tanker in the Mediterranean that Macron said belonged to Russia’s shadow fleet, which comprises several hundred tankers through which Russia evades sanctions. The United States has eased sanctions on Russian oil already at sea as the conflict in the Middle East war disrupts oil supplies. Europe has not followed suit.
In January, France stopped another oil tanker between the southern coast of Spain and the northern coast of Morocco on suspicion that it was part of the Russian shadow fleet. Belgium intercepted another tanker suspected of sailing with a “false flag and false documents” in March, with French assistance.
The seizure of the Tagor is seen as a significant blow to Russia’s efforts to evade international sanctions and highlights the importance of international cooperation in enforcing these measures.
Original Article: France seizes another sanctioned tanker carrying Russian oil — Ktvz