US releases Russian crew members of seized tanker – Moscow
The US has set free the two Russian crew members of the Russian-flagged oil tanker ‘Marinera’ captured by American forces, the Foreign Ministry in Moscow has said.
US President Donald Trump made the move in response to a request by the Kremlin, the ministry said.
“We welcome this decision and express our gratitude to the US leadership,” the statement read.
On Wednesday, the US European Command announced the capture of the Marinera in international waters to the northwest of Scotland. American warships had pursued it all the way from the Caribbean Sea.
The tanker, previously named Bella 1, was intercepted for alleged “violation of US sanctions” regarding the export of Venezuelan oil.
The vessel had a crew of 28 people, including two Russians, 17 Ukrainians, three Georgians and three citizens of India.
The US first set its sights on the tanker late last year after it reportedly tried to approach Venezuela. At the time, the captain refused a demand to board by the US Coast Guard, and changed course towards the Atlantic.
During the pursuit, the crew renamed the vessel and applied for a temporary permit to fly Russia’s flag, which was granted by the Russian port of Sochi.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said previously that the seizure of the Marinera by the US “cannot be interpreted as anything but the most blatant violation of the fundamental principles and norms of international maritime law.” It would lead to further escalation of tensions in the Euro-Atlantic region and lower the “threshold for the use of force against civilian vessels,” it stressed.
The capture of the vessel came just days after American forces conducted a military raid in Venezuela and abducted its president, Nicolas Maduro, whom the US has charged with drug trafficking.
