Russia Calls France's Tanker Seizure Piracy

(MENAFN) Moscow has condemned the detention of the Russian tanker Tagor by French authorities as unlawful and tantamount to piracy, escalating what is rapidly becoming a serious diplomatic confrontation between the two nations.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov delivered the sharp rebuke on Monday, rejecting Paris' justification for the seizure outright.

"We consider such actions illegal; they border on international piracy. We absolutely reject the claim that they are being carried out in full compliance with international law," Peskov said.

French military forces intercepted and detained the Tagor in the Atlantic Ocean on Monday, with authorities alleging the vessel had departed Russia's northern port city of Murmansk while flying a false flag.

Preliminary information indicates the tanker's captain is a Russian national. The Russian embassy in Paris has since formally requested clarification from French authorities on the possible presence of Russian citizens aboard the seized vessel — a request that, as of Monday, had gone unanswered by the French Foreign Ministry.

Peskov warned that Russia would not absorb the incident without consequence, stressing that Moscow intends to take further steps to safeguard the security of its maritime cargo operations in response to what he described as a dangerous new precedent.

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