Moscow/Washington, Jan 8: Russia has sharply condemned the United States’ seizure of the Russian-flagged oil tanker Marinera in the North Atlantic, calling the action a breach of international maritime law and demanding the immediate and humane treatment of its crew.
In an official statement, the Russian Transport Ministry said that contact was lost with the Marinera after U.S. naval forces boarded the vessel near Iceland on Wednesday. Moscow argued that the operation violated the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which guarantees freedom of navigation on the high seas and prohibits the use of force against ships properly registered under another state’s flag.
“Freedom of navigation applies in the high seas, and no state has the right to use force against vessels duly registered in the jurisdictions of other states,” the ministry said, underscoring its legal objections to the U.S. action.
A senior Russian lawmaker echoed the ministry’s criticism, branding the seizure as “outright piracy” and asserting that sanctions should not justify such measures against a foreign-registered vessel. According to state media, he described the incident as “piracy of the 21st century,” accusing Washington of resorting to the “law of force” rather than international legal norms.
Moscow has pressed the United States to guarantee “humane and decent treatment” of the Russian crew members and to ensure their swift repatriation, state news agencies reported. The number of Russian nationals aboard and their current condition have not been disclosed.
The Marinera, previously known as Bella-1, had been linked to a broader U.S. effort to curb oil shipments from Venezuela and other sanctioned sources, the Russian ministry noted. The vessel had reportedly evaded earlier efforts by U.S. authorities to board it in Caribbean waters.
The seizure comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions between Moscow and Washington, with both countries navigating complex disputes over sanctions, energy exports and regional influence. The United States has framed its actions as enforcement of sanctions, while Russia denounces them as unlawful interference in maritime trade.
