French authorities have fined the ‘Tagor’ tanker €1 million ($1.1 million) for its role in shipping Russian oil and gas. The tanker was intercepted and impounded at the end of May.
Background
Russia has relied on old vessels, known as the ‘shadow fleet’, to ship its oil and gas, in order to avoid sanctions imposed on Moscow by Western governments due to Russia’s war in Ukraine. France and Britain have vowed to obstruct such vessels as part of a European strategy to reduce Russia’s ability to fund the war.
The French Ministry of Justice added that the Tagor was now free to leave French waters, following the payment of the fine. Russia rejects the ‘shadow fleet’ label, saying its oil shipments are legitimate, and has condemned Western attempts to intercept tankers as illegal and akin to piracy.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
