France Seizes Russian Oil Tanker in Atlantic, Citing Sanctions Violations

France has seized a Russian oil tanker, the Tagor, in international waters of the Atlantic Ocean, with President Emmanuel Macron announcing the operation on the social platform X. The French navy, supported by the United Kingdom and other partners, intercepted the vessel on May 31.

Macron condemned the tanker's actions, stating, "It is unacceptable for ships to circumvent international sanctions, violate maritime law, and finance the war that Russia has been waging against Ukraine for more than four years." He further emphasized that such vessels, which disregard fundamental maritime rules, also pose a threat to the environment and public safety.

The Tagor, which was sailing from Russia, is reportedly subject to international sanctions. According to VesselFinder, the tanker flies the flag of Madagascar and last docked in Murmansk, Russia, in early May. Macron asserted that the seizure strictly adheres to maritime law.

Russia has not yet officially commented on the incident. However, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova previously stated that Moscow would use all available measures to ensure respect for the principle of freedom of navigation and to counter "piracy" by the European Union. This suggests a potential diplomatic standoff.

This seizure follows previous actions by French forces, who have inspected three other vessels since September that were allegedly part of Russia's "shadow fleet." These fleets are often used by Russia to circumvent oil sanctions. The owners of those vessels were allowed to depart after paying fines. Macron estimates that Russia's shadow fleet comprises between 600 and 1,000 tankers, many of which have unclear ownership and insurance, and are over 20 years old. Hundreds of ships suspected of belonging to this fleet are currently under EU sanctions.

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