EU sanctions against Russia: a Russian commercial vessel intercepted in the English Channel

Published on : 02/26/2022 – 16:13

A commercial boat transporting vehicles to Saint-Petersburg, suspected of belonging to a Russian company targeted by the sanctions imposed by the EU against Moscow, was diverted to Boulogne-sur-Mer (Pas-de-Calais), indicated Saturday, February 26 to AFP the maritime prefecture.

A customs patrol boat, supported by a gendarmerie patrol boat and a navy patrol boat, escorted the Ro-Ro Baltic Leader, which left Rouen under the Russian flag, said Véronique Magnin, regional communication officer for the maritime prefecture.

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This 127-meter boat is “strongly suspected of being linked to Russian interests targeted by sanctions”, said the same source, stressing that this measure, a sign of “firmness”, was “rare” in this area.

“The Russian merchant ship was cooperative,” said Véronique Magnin.

Customs are currently conducting hearings and investigations on board to confirm these links.

An operation “never seen”

The Russian embassy in Paris, informed by an emergency call from the captain, said it had “immediately contacted the French authorities to seek clarification”, embassy spokesman Alexander Makagonov was quoted as saying by the official TASS news agency.

French Minister of Public Accounts Olivier Dussopt “congratulates customs”, said his cabinet, adding that “this procedure” was “in accordance with the instructions he gave with (the Minister of Finance, editor’s note) Bruno Le Maire to the services of Bercy for the implementation of the sanctions”.

Port CEO Jean-Jacques Puissesseau said he had “never seen” such an operation in 20 years of activity.

The European Union on Thursday adopted an unprecedented package of sanctions against Russia in response to the invasion of Ukraine, shortly before London and Washington in turn tightened restrictions, without taking drastic measures.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov are now targeted, in addition to 26 personalities from the business world.

With AFP