EU calls on Russia to release Lithuanian vessel and its crew that it detained in international waters

The European Union urged Russia to respect international obligations and immediately release crew of a Lithuanian vessel that it forcefully transported to Russian territory from the international waters.

“We are concerned by the forced apprehension of the Lithuanian fishing vessel ‘Jūros Vilkas’ by Russian border guards in high seas waters of the Barents Sea on 18 September, the subsequent detention of the vessel and its crew, as well as its forceful towing to Russian territory,” the spokesperson of EU High Representative for foreign affairs and security said in a statement.

“The European Union calls on Russia to respect its international obligations and to immediately release the vessel. The EU also calls on Russia to refrain from any action in contravention of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea vis-à-vis fishing vessels flying the flag of a Member State of the EU,” the statement said.

“The matter has been raised with the Russian Ambassador to the EU,” it added.