The Kremlin said it had no information on the origin and type of oil transported by the tanker detained off the coast of France, TASS reported, citing Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, BTA reports.
“I don't know what this oil is, what its origin is. We have no information about this. This is a commercial sale of energy resources“, he pointed out.
The French prosecutor's office in Brest has launched an investigation into the tanker for “lack of evidence of the nationality of the ship/flag“ and “failure to comply with an order of the authorities“. It subsequently ordered the detention of the captain and his first mate, who are Chinese citizens, recalls Agence France-Presse.
The prosecution later decided to press charges only against the captain, who was served with a summons to appear before the criminal court in Brest, while the first mate was released, said Brest prosecutor Stephane Kellenberger.
French naval commandos boarded the ship “Boracay“, flying the Benin flag, on Saturday off the French coast.