Russia expresses "serious concern" over US seizure of Marinera tanker

Russia's Foreign Ministry has expressed "serious concern" over the seizure of the oil tanker Marinera by US armed forces.

Source: Russian Foreign Ministry

Quote: "The landing of US military personnel on a civilian vessel on the high seas and its de facto seizure, as well as the detention of the crew, cannot be interpreted otherwise than as a gross violation of the fundamental principles and norms of international maritime law."

Details: Moscow urged Washington to "return to compliance with the fundamental norms and principles of international maritime navigation". The ministry insists that the vessel was supposedly engaged in "lawful activity on the high seas".

Russia's Foreign Ministry also called on the United States to "ensure humane and dignified treatment of Russian citizens on board the Marinera".

The White House, for its part, said that the crew of the tanker Marinera is subject to criminal prosecution for violations of the law.

As spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt explained, the court warrant for the seizure of the vessel also applies to the crew, meaning they may now be held accountable for any violations of US federal law.

Earlier, US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said that during the pursuit the crew changed the vessel's flag and attempted to apply a new name to the ship. Noem described this as "desperate and failed attempts to evade justice".

US Vice President JD Vance explained that the tanker, previously known as Bella 1, refused to allow US authorities to board last month and subsequently re-registered under the Russian flag as Marinera in order to obtain Russia's protection.

Background:

• US European Command said it had seized the vessel Bella 1 for violating US sanctions. The Venezuela-linked oil tanker was captured after more than two weeks of pursuit across the Atlantic Ocean.
• Russia's Ministry of Transport said that the tanker seized by the United States in the Atlantic Ocean had a temporary permit to sail under the Russian flag.
• Vice President JD Vance said that the tanker Bella 1, later re-registered in Russia as Marinera, merely posed as Russian in order to circumvent sanctions and avoid accountability.
• The US Coast Guard has also seized another tanker in the Caribbean Sea that is subject to US sanctions and is linked to Russia's so-called shadow fleet.

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