Russia Accuses France of 'International Piracy' Over Tanker Detention

The Kremlin has strongly denounced the detention of the tanker Tagor by French authorities in the Atlantic Ocean, labeling the action as illegal and bordering on international piracy. Dmitry Peskov, spokesperson for the Kremlin, stated on Monday that Moscow rejects France's accusations that the tanker sailed from Murmansk, Russia, under a false flag.

"We consider these actions illegal; they are almost international piracy. We completely reject the claims that the actions were taken entirely in accordance with international law," Peskov said. France had previously announced that its military had detained the Tagor tanker, citing suspicions that the vessel was using an invalid or false flag identity. The Russian Embassy in Paris has requested official information from French authorities regarding any Russian citizens potentially aboard the detained ship.

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We consider these actions illegal; they are almost international piracy. We completely reject the claims that the actions were taken entirely in accordance with international law.

According to initial information obtained by Russia, the captain of the Tagor tanker is reportedly a Russian national. Peskov emphasized that the Russian government will continue to take necessary measures to ensure the safety of its maritime cargo shipments. He further asserted that the incident of the ship's detention creates a negative precedent for the security of international navigation.

French authorities stated that the detention of the Tagor tanker was due to alleged violations concerning the vessel's sailing identity. The ship, which departed from Murmansk, a key Russian Arctic port and energy export hub, is suspected of using an unauthorized flag identity. This suspicion led to an inspection by French maritime authorities before the French Navy detained the vessel in the Atlantic Ocean. In international maritime practice, every ship must be registered with a country and is entitled to fly that nation's flag as a legal identifier. A ship's flag status is crucial as it determines jurisdiction, safety standards, and compliance with various international regulations.

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The Russian government will continue to take the necessary steps to ensure the safety of its maritime cargo shipments.