Lithuanian Foreign Ministry sends a note of protest to Russian Embassy over illegal actions in detaining Lithuania’s fishing vessel
On 22 September the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania sent a diplomatic note to the Russian Embassy in Lithuania, protesting the illegal actions by the Russian officials in detaining the fishing vessel “Jūros vilkas” which was sailing under the flag of Lithuania in the international waters in the Barents Sea, its forced towing to the Port of Murmansk, as well as the illegal detention of the crew of the vessel.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania notes that the Russian Federation by illegal actions of its officials in detaining in the international waters the vessel „Jūros vilkas“, sailing under the flag of Lithuania and registered in Lithuania, has violated the Part VII of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, guaranteeing freedom of the high seas. Moreover, the institutions of the Republic of Lithuania were not informed about the detention of the fishing vessel and its crew“, says the note.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stresses that such actions by the Russian officials are in violation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, to which Russia has acceded. The note urges a prompt release of the vessel and its crew.
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