MOSCOW, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- The seizure of a Russian-flagged oil tanker by the United States violates international maritime law and UN conventions, a senior Russian lawmaker said on Wednesday.
"The seizure of the Marinera, a Russian-flagged vessel sailing in international territorial waters, is undoubtedly a violation of maritime law and UN conventions. This is piracy of the 21st century by the Anglo-Saxons," Leonid Slutsky, chairman of the International Affairs Committee of the Russian State Duma, was quoted as saying by the TASS news agency.
Slutsky added that sanctions cannot be used as a justification for seizing a vessel. "The United States is increasingly acting according to the 'law of force,' while ignoring the 'force of law,'" he said.
U.S. European Command said it seized an empty oil tanker linked with Venezuela and registered as a Russian vessel in the North Atlantic in an operation on Wednesday.
Russia has condemned the U.S. action and demanded that the United States not impede the speedy return of Russians on board the vessel to their homeland. ■
