Indian captain 'scapegoat' in Britain's Russia shadow fleet case, wife says

The Indian captain of an oil tanker intercepted by British commandos has been made a "scapegoat" in a case linked to Russia's alleged shadow fleet, his wife told AFP. Ajay Pant, 38, is currently in custody in Britain and faces charges of sanctions offenses, which carry a potential maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment.

Ritu Pant, 36, described her husband's situation as being "at the wrong place at the wrong time." She stated in her first interview since his arrest in June that he "just became the scapegoat." The interception occurred on June 14 when British commandos boarded the sanctioned oil tanker Smyrtos in the English Channel. The vessel is suspected of being part of Russia's opaque network of ships used to evade oil sanctions imposed after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

This case is significant as it could set a legal precedent for how merchant seafarers are treated when involved in sanctions evasion. The Smyrtos reportedly sailed from a Russian port on June 5, raising questions about the vessel's movements and the captain's role within the alleged sanctions-busting operation.

“

My husband just became the scapegoat. He was at the wrong place at the wrong time.