The captain of the Russian oil tanker Tagor, linked to a shadow fleet, has been detained by French authorities after the vessel was intercepted in international waters of the Atlantic Ocean. This action was reported by the French newspaper Le Monde, citing the country’s prosecutor’s office.
During the interception, the Tagor was sailing under a false Cameroonian flag. Following its capture, the ship was escorted to the bay in Douarnenez, where the Brest prosecutor’s office initiated a criminal investigation.
The Russian captain now faces potential imprisonment of up to one year and a fine of €150,000 for operating without the appropriate flag and for failing to comply with a maritime stop order. Additionally, there is a possibility of the tanker being confiscated, with efforts underway to identify its owner.
According to Russian news agency TASS, the Russian embassy in Paris has demanded the release of the captain and requested consular access.
The Tagor was apprehended by French naval forces on May 31 while navigating in international waters. The Kremlin condemned the actions as “illegal,” asserting that they amount to piracy.
As reported by the War&Sanctions portal of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, the Tagor is part of a shadow fleet transporting crude oil. The vessel is reportedly captained by Yuriy Levytsky, born in 1970, and is under sanctions imposed by the United States, European Union, Ukraine, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
French authorities have detained the captain of the sanctioned oil tanker Tagor, which was intercepted while sailing under a false flag. The incident has drawn condemnation from Russia, which calls the actions illegal and akin to piracy.
Source: Le Monde