RT.com
02 Jun 2026, 02:39 GMT+10
The vessel was unlawfully diverted from international waters, according to Russias Foreign Ministry
Moscow accused France and the UK of engaging in an act of "piracy" after French and British naval forces intercepted and diverted a cargo ship sailing from Russia's Murmansk to Cameroon in international waters.
The vessel, Tagor, was stopped on Sunday, more than 400 nautical miles off the coast of Brittany, according to Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. French authorities claim the ship was operating under a "false" flag.
In a statement on Tueday, Zakharova said the Russian Embassy in Paris has demanded full information concerning the circumstances of the detention, warning that the operation violated international maritime law. She also stated that Moscow is taking measures to protect Russian crew members aboard the vessel.
The spokeswoman rejected France's justification for the operation, which cited Article 110 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. The provision allows warships to board and inspect vessels on the high seas under limited circumstances, including when a ship is suspected of having no nationality.
However, international maritime law does not permit a warship to compel a vessel to alter course and escort it from international waters to a national port, according to Moscow.
Zakharova also dismissed French President Emmanuel Macron's insinuation that the ship was violating "international sanctions," arguing that only restrictions approved by the UN Security Council qualify as international sanctions. Unilateral measures imposed by European states cannot be considered international under law, she said.
The spokeswoman accused European governments of selectively interpreting legal norms to suit their interests, while cautioning that attempts to enforce sanctions in areas governed by freedom of navigation could have broader consequences for global shipping.
She added that many vessels operating in the interests of European countries sail under so-called flags of convenience, cautioning that extending such enforcement practices to the high seas could prove costly for international maritime trade.
(RT.com)
Get a daily dose of Nigeria Sun news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Nigeria Sun.
More InformationTORONTO, Canada: Although relations between the U.S. and Canada have become strained under President Donald Trump, new data shows that...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: A federal judge ruled this week that President Donald Trump's name was added to the Kennedy Center illegally. The...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The U.S. travel industry is warning that any move to halt the processing of international passengers and cargo at...
SINGAPORE: The United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia are working together to build unmanned underwater vehicles under their...
GENEVA, Switzerland: On average, eleven children have been killed or injured every 24 hours in Lebanon over the past week, the U.N.'s...
CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida: Blue Origin suffered a major setback in its effort to challenge SpaceX after an uncrewed New Glenn rocket...
VATICAN CITY: Pope Leo XIV made a historic apology on May 25 for the role the Holy See played in supporting slavery and for not condemning...
The vessel was unlawfully diverted from international waters, according to Russias Foreign Ministry Moscow accused France and the...
(Photo credit: Talia Sprague-Imagn Images) Goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa will represent Mexico in a record sixth World Cup appearance...
A widely shared Bloemfontein notice promising cash payouts is fraudulent, the Department of Home Affairs has said The South African...
More than 54 million citizens are choosing lawmakers from among candidates representing 42 political parties Ethiopians began voting...
SHARJAH, 1st June, 2026 (WAM) -- The Arab Mini Football Federation, headed by Saeed Al Ajel and based in the United Arab Emirates,...
