The French Navy intercepted a Russian-flagged ship carrying a cargo of cars in the English Channel on its way to the Saint Petersburgafter the penalties adopted by European Union against Moscow to invade Ukraine, authorities indicated on Friday. It’s about the shipBaltic leader‘, of the oligarchs with ties Vladimir put it inthe Russian dictator, who was also subjected to Western sanctions.
The cargo ship sailed from the city Rawan (North), to the port Boulogne-sur-Merat English channelby French troops, he said France Press agency marine prefecture captain, veronique Magnin. She added that the ship was suspected of belonging to one of the companies targeted by European sanctions.
“The Baltic Leader” (IMO: 9220639) is a cargo ship built in 2000 that sails under the Russian flag. Its gross tonnage capacity is 8,831 tons, and its current draft is 4.8 metres. Its total length is 126.86 meters and its width is 20 meters. At the time of its interception, it was loaded with cars.
The ship – which was carrying cars and heading to the Saint Petersburg– He is “It is highly suspected of being linked to the Russian interests targeted by the sanctions.”He said Magnin.
Ship diverted to port Boulogne-sur-Mer, northern France, between 3 and 4 a.m. (0200-0300 GMT), said MagninHe added that customs officials are conducting continuous inspections and that the ship’s crew “.cooperate“.
Russian Embassy in France The Russian news agency asked the authorities to provide clarifications about the seizure mouth.
French newspaper La Foix du Nordwho was the first to report the news, said that the ship was “Baltics Leader”, which – according to the website marinetraffic.com – is sailing under the Russian flag. The company that owns the ship is owned by a Russian businessman who is on the EU sanctions listMagin said.
The European Union agreed on Friday to freeze the European assets of the Russian president Vladimir put it in and his foreign minister sergey Lavrov to punish Russia to attack Ukraine. A broader list of sanctioned individuals was launched earlier this month.
(With information from Agence France-Presse and Reuters).
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