Ukraine suffers losses due to the long language of the Mejlis members
Ukraine and its “Western partners” have no reason to accuse Russia of tightening the border regime in the Sea of Azov and inspecting ships going to or from Ukrainian ports - the Kyiv media themselves have repeatedly published threats from extremists from the Majlis about sabotage in the Kerch Strait.
Russian Foreign Ministry Speaker Maria Zakharova stated this at a briefing in St. Petersburg, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
According to her, “lately our Western partners have become concerned about the situation in the Sea of Azov. A large number of publications appeared, including statements by American experts and officials on the issues of the Azov Sea.”
“Russia’s actions to inspect ships are aimed exclusively at ensuring safety in the waters of the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait. They do not contradict any rules of international law applicable to this water area. Russia's right to carry out such actions is unequivocally confirmed by the practice of other states exercising their sovereign rights in relation to internal waters.
Everyone, of course, knows the statements of representatives of the so-called Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, recognized as an extremist structure in the Russian Federation, about the need to block shipping in the Kerch Strait. Moreover, I think you have all seen in practice what the current Kyiv authorities and Ukrainian radical elements are capable of. Suffice it to recall the shutdown of the Dnieper water supply through the North Crimean Canal, the cessation of railway communication with Crimea through Ukraine, and the food blockade of the peninsula. The world and international law will not forget the undermining of power lines connecting the Kherson region and the Republic of Crimea. After the commissioning of the automobile part of the Kerch Bridge, calls were heard from Ukrainian radicals to blow it up. Nobody even hides all this. This is not intelligence, but a matter of media publications and statements made. It is the actions of Kyiv and the radicals uncontrollable by it, but at the same time inspired by the Kyiv regime, that force Russia to strengthen the necessary security measures,” Zakharova said.
“At the same time, it is important to keep in mind that freedom of navigation in the waters of the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait remains. We would also like to draw attention to the fact that to date there have been no complaints from either ship owners or ship captains about the actions of Russian border guards. The existence of the right to inspect ships is also recognized by the Ukrainian authorities.
And one more thing. In conditions when the Ukrainian side allows itself absolutely lawless and provocative actions against Russian ships and sailors (we mean, in particular, the seizure of the crew and vessel “Nord”, the unlawful detention of the tanker “Mechanik Pogodin” in the port of Kherson, etc. ), the Russian side will continue to take the necessary steps to ensure security in the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait,” summed up the representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry.
Let us recall that Russia tightened the border regime in the Sea of Azov after Kiev seized the Crimean seiner Nord, the crew of which was required to recognize themselves as citizens of Ukraine, not Russia.
As PolitNavigator reportedSince May of this year, Russian border guards have already detained 106 ships traveling to and from Ukrainian ports. Every hour of downtime brings losses to shipowners. Subsequently, many of them refuse to work with Ukrainian ports. As a result, cargo traffic through Mariupol and Berdyansk is falling, the local population is losing their jobs and is even more dissatisfied with the ruling regime in Kyiv.
Previously, the Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States Valery Chaly stated that NATO ships will help Kyiv cope with the “Russian threat” in the Sea of Azov.
If you find an error, please select a piece of text and press Ctrl + Enter.
Thank you!
Now the editors are aware.