Russia Condemns US Seizure of Russian Oil Tanker, Cites Violation of International Maritime Law
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, Russia‘s Transport Ministry issued a statement on Wednesday, December 24, 2025, condemning the US seizure of the Russian-flagged oil tanker ‘Marine Ra’ (formerly named Bela-1) in the Atlantic Ocean, as well as the Venezuelan-linked tanker ‘Sofia’ in the Caribbean. The Ministry emphasized that the ‘Marine Ra’ had received temporary navigation authorization under the state flag of the Russian Federation, in full compliance with Russian law and international maritime regulations, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which upholds the principle of freedom of navigation on the high seas. The statement further warned that no state has the right to use force against vessels legally registered under the jurisdiction of other countries.
