Day: January 8, 2026
Georgian citizens were reportedly among the crew of a Russian-flagged oil tanker seized by the United States on January 7 in the North Atlantic.
According to Russian media reports, the seized tanker, Marinera, had a crew of 28 people, including 20 Ukrainians, six Georgians – among them the captain – and two Russians.
Georgia’s Maritime Transport Agency said it is “currently working to clarify the factual circumstances, including identifying the company employing the vessel and obtaining information about Georgian members of the crew.”
On January 7, the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. military special forces seized two Venezuela-linked oil tankers. The Marinera, which had changed its name from Bella 1 and its flag from Guyana to Russia after evading a U.S. blockade of Venezuela in December, was seized between Iceland and Britain following a weeks-long pursuit by U.S. authorities. Another vessel, the M/T Sophia, was seized in the Caribbean Sea. The UK confirmed it provided support to the operation targeting the Marinera.
Washington said the Marinera is part of a so-called “shadow fleet” that carries oil for countries such as Russia, Venezuela and Iran in violation of U.S. sanctions. The Marinera is sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department for its prior involvement in Iranian oil trading.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement that the Marinera’s crew made “frantic efforts to avoid apprehension” and “failed to obey” U.S. Coast Guard orders, and therefore faces criminal charges. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the crew would be brought to the United States for prosecution “if necessary.”
Russia responded to the seizure by saying the vessel had been granted temporary permission to sail under the Russian flag. The vessel received temporary registration from port authorities in Sochi, on the eastern coast of the Black Sea. The Russian Foreign Ministry has demanded that the U.S. ensure the “humane and dignified” treatment of Russian citizens on board the Marinera and their swift return to Russia.
The seizure of the Venezuela-linked oil tankers follows President Donald Trump’s push to dictate oil flows in the Americas and comes days after the United States attacked Venezuela and captured President Nicolás Maduro.
In a separate case last week, Finnish authorities arrested two crew members of the cargo vessel Fitburg while investigating damage to an undersea telecommunications cable in the Gulf of Finland.
The 14-member crew of the ship, which was traveling from St. Petersburg to the Israeli port of Haifa, included citizens of Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan.
🇦🇿 “Baku has lessons to offer others” – Foreign experts on President Aliyev’s messages
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