Russian tanker seized in Greece under EU sanctions
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Russia's central bank and the sovereign wealth fund were among three core government financial bodies affected.
PHOTO: NYTIMES
ATHENS/WELLINGTON (AFP, REUTERS) – A Russia-flagged crude oil tanker has been seized in Greece under European Union sanctions linked to the war in Ukraine, a coastguard spokesman said on Tuesday (April 19).
The more than 115,000-tonne Pegas was originally headed to Marmara terminal in Turkey, according to the Marine Traffic website.
The ship is currently moored at Karystos anchorage, south of the island of Evia.
“The tanker was seized on April 15 under EU sanctions, with 19 Russians on board,” a coastguard spokesman told AFP.
She added that the seizure would not affect the cargo, but could not provide details as to when a transfer to another tanker would be made.
Greek media had earlier reported that the tanker had faced engine trouble and was being escorted by a tugboat towards the Peloponnese, but was forced to moor at Karystos owing to poor weather.
While the EU has imposed a slew of sanctions on Russia over the invasion of Ukraine, oil and gas are not part of the punitive measures.
The more than 115,000-tonne Pegas was originally headed to Marmara terminal in Turkey, according to the Marine Traffic website.
The ship is currently moored at Karystos anchorage, south of the island of Evia.
“The tanker was seized on April 15 under EU sanctions, with 19 Russians on board,” a coastguard spokesman told AFP.
She added that the seizure would not affect the cargo, but could not provide details as to when a transfer to another tanker would be made.
Greek media had earlier reported that the tanker had faced engine trouble and was being escorted by a tugboat towards the Peloponnese, but was forced to moor at Karystos owing to poor weather.
While the EU has imposed a slew of sanctions on Russia over the invasion of Ukraine, oil and gas are not part of the punitive measures.
Separately, New Zealand unveiled new sanctions on Tuesday targeting Russia’s largest banks and financial institutions, in its response to the invasion of Ukraine.
“We are deeply concerned at the reports of brutality from Russian forces,” Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said in a statement after the measures were announced.
“New Zealand continues to condemn (Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s war and supports the International Criminal Court’s investigations into the atrocities committed against the citizens of Ukraine.”
“We are deeply concerned at the reports of brutality from Russian forces,” Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said in a statement after the measures were announced.
“New Zealand continues to condemn (Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s war and supports the International Criminal Court’s investigations into the atrocities committed against the citizens of Ukraine.”
She said the central bank and the sovereign wealth fund were among three core government financial bodies affected, as well as eight of Russia’s largest banks and seven others with ties to oligarchs, the defence sector and the annexation of Crimea.
Moscow calls its action in Ukraine which started on Feb 24 a “special military operation”.
Moscow calls its action in Ukraine which started on Feb 24 a “special military operation”.
Earlier, the United States is seeking to seize a superyacht suspected of belonging to a Russian oligarch that is docked in the Pacific island nation of Fiji, a restraining order filed on Tuesday by Fiji's director of public prosecutions showed.
The luxury vessel, the Amadea, is widely believed to be owned by Russian oligarch Suleiman Kerimov, sanctioned by the US and the European Union.
The vessel arrived in Fiji a week ago after leaving Mexico 18 days earlier and crossing the Pacific. Police are investigating.
The authorities in various countries have seized luxury vessels and villas owned by Russian billionaires in response to sanctions imposed on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, which Russia calls a special military operation.
Fiji's director of public prosecutions, Mr Christopher Pryde, filed an application to the High Court seeking to prevent the Amadea from leaving Fiji.
The application requested "the motor yacht Amadea be restrained from leaving Fijian waters until the finalisation of an application to register a warrant to seize the property and (ii) that a US warrant to seize the Amadea be registered".
The US embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but last week said "the United States is committed to finding and seizing the assets of the oligarchs who have supported the Russian Federation's brutal, unprovoked war of choice against Ukraine".
The court has not heard the application.
A superyacht agent in Fiji acting for the Amadea told Reuters last week that the vessel's lawyers were contesting that Mr Kerimov was the owner.
Registration records viewed by Reuters show the yacht is registered to a company in the Cayman islands.
Mr Kerimov was sanctioned by the US in 2018 and 2014 in response to Russia's actions in Syria and Ukraine.
