Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –
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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News
Moscow, January 30 (Xinhua) — The tanker Grinch, detained by the French Navy in the Mediterranean Sea, has no connection to Russia, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated at a briefing on Friday.
"The ship's owner is a company registered in the Marshall Islands, and the crew, as far as we know, consists of Indian citizens. Therefore, the detained vessel truly has no connection to our country," TASS quoted her as saying.
The Russian diplomat emphasized that Moscow considers infringements on freedom of navigation unacceptable. She stated that references to European Union sanctions, which the French leadership falsely calls international, as grounds for coercive action against any tankers are "absolutely untenable." "The unilateral restrictive measures themselves are contrary to international law. In any case, they cannot serve as grounds for exercising jurisdiction on the high seas and seizing vessels," Zakharova pointed out.
A representative of the Russian diplomatic mission warned that if international law is violated with respect to vessels flying the Russian flag, Russia will take all available measures to protect them. –0–
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