On January 7, the US Coast Guard arrested the oil tanker Marinera (formerly Bella 1) in the North Atlantic international waters under arrest warrant from the US federal court after weeks of pursuit from the Caribbean region.
The ship is believed to belong to the "dark fleet" operating in oil transportation violating US sanctions against Venezuela and Iran.
The ship avoided an attempt to control the US Coast Guard off Venezuela last month and then changed its name to Marinera, flying the Russian flag in the hope of avoiding pursuit.
The US Department of Justice announced that it will criminally prosecute all sailors who do not comply with the Orders of the Coast Guard and federal officials, including criminal charges that may be tried immediately in the US.
A government spokesman emphasized that the Department of Justice is monitoring many other ships and will prosecute all individuals on any ship who deliberately oppose the Coast Guard and US officials' requests.
Previously, White House Spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said that the US could bring the crew back to US territory for trial for violating federal law, emphasizing its tough stance on sanctioned oil transportation activities.
This campaign takes place in the context of the US administration's efforts to tighten the blockade of Venezuelan and Iranian oil, expanding over the vast ocean, in order to cut funding from activities that Washington considers illegal.
Russia strongly opposes the US's use of force at sea, calling it a violation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and requesting to ensure the rights of Russian citizens in the crew.
The Russian Ministry of Transport affirmed that it lost contact with the ship after US forces boarded in international waters, and emphasized that freedom of navigation at sea must be respected.
Russia requests the US side to ensure proper and humane treatment of the crew, seriously respect their rights and interests, and not hinder their early return home.
