Macron announces detention of tanker leaving Russia

French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that the French Navy has seized an oil tanker in the Mediterranean Sea that had sailed from Russia.

According to the president, sanctions have been imposed on the seized tanker, which was allegedly flying a false flag. The operation was carried out in neutral waters in the Mediterranean. It took place “with the help of France’s allies,” Macron said. It later emerged that the seizure was carried out in cooperation with Britain. According to the Mediterranean Maritime Prefecture, France has seized a tanker named “Grinch.” It had sailed from Murmansk. Neither the agency nor the French Armed Forces General Staff could confirm the tanker’s flag. It is also not known whether there were Russian citizens on board.

French authorities did not notify the Russian Embassy in Paris of the seizure of the tanker, which had sailed from Murmansk. Macron referred to the fact that these actions are in accordance with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.