The ship « Shtandart » occupies French ports promoting an attractive Russian culture in spite of sanctions adopted following Bucha atrocities. Staging a fiction in a perpetual creation, relayed by subjugated media, when they do not add their own fantasy, Vladimir Martus, its captain owner, manages successfully his commercial activities in our country. He benefits from numerous supports from the local authorities as well as from the French and Russian state apparatus.
This case and its protean network are becoming more complex every day. By answering four short questions, we will try, nevertheless, to draw a very brief synthesis.
- Why is France facing « Shtandart » occupation in unusual proportions?
- Why is frigate « Shtandart » a « Russian vessel » within sanctions scope?
- Why can « Shtandart » engage into commercial activities in France?
- Why is Vladimir Martus, captain-owner of « Shtandart », a fake opponent to Putin’s regime?
Why is France facing « Shtandart » occupation in unusual proportions?
Banished from the other ports of the Union, the « Shtandart » vessel, a replica of Peter the Great’s flagship frigate, saw its field of operations restricted to a very accommodating France. It is now based in La Rochelle. Since June 2022, it has been hired as a commercial service provider by many traditional sailing festivals held, or to be held, in French ports. However, such a presence seems to be incompatible with the fifth round of sanctions decided unanimously by EU member states after the atrocities committed by Russian armed forces in Bucha and other places under Russian occupation. Indeed, since April 16, 2022, entry into European ports is prohibited to any Russian vessel.
Why is frigate « Shtandart » a « Russian vessel » within sanctions scope?
Assuming that « Shtandart », despite its passenger transport activities, especially since June 2022, does not fall under the SOLAS Convention (« Safety Of Life At Sea »), it is nevertheless concerned by numerous relevant international maritime conventions, allowing to define what is a vessel according to article 3ea paragraph 3 subparagraph « a » of the Council Regulation (EU) No 833/2014 consolidated text. Therefore, it becomes very difficult to consider that the frigate Shtandart, whose flag of registration is that of the Russian Federation, is not a vessel. Let us add that the same vessel cannot, in our opinion, be excluded simultaneously from subparagraphs « a » and « b » of Chapter 3 of the aforementioned article 3ea.
Quotation from Consolidated text: Council Regulation (EU) No 833/2014 of 31 July 2014 concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine
- It shall be prohibited to provide access, after 16 April 2022, to ports and, after 29 July 2022, to locks in the territory of the Union, to any vessel registered under the flag of Russia, with the exception of access to locks for the purpose of leaving the territory of the Union.
- …
- For the purposes of this Article, with the exception of paragraph 1a, a ‘vessel’ means:
(a) a ship falling within the scope of the relevant international conventions;
(b) a yacht, of 15 metres in length or more, which does not carry cargo and carrying no more than 12 passengers; or
(c) recreational craft or personal watercraft as defined in Directive 2013/53/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council
Why can « Shtandart » engage into commercial activities in France?
The European text does not recognize any derogation or exclusion for historical replicas, training ships, or even ships proclaiming themselves, since February 27, 2022, as « opponents » of the Russian regime. The document of the « National Authority of Intelligence and Customs Investigations » (DNRED), in exhibit, uses the terms « listed entities » and « categories » which do not appear in the said European regulation aiming at exhaustiveness. Limiting itself to cargo vessels of 500 GT and more, as well as to recreational vessels, the letter from the DNRED is a misleading rewriting of the text of the sanctions, in a restrictive and circumventing sense.
We have good reason to believe that this manipulation was inspired by the lobby group working for the Russian ship « Shtandart ». The conditions of its endorsement by the French authorities raise questions, especially since EU Council added the violation of restrictive measures to the list of EU crimes on November 28, 2022. Our committee is in touch with the « Quai d’Orsay » (French MFA), the European Commission and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) concerning this diversion, contrary to the European legislator intention. The first elements of response received lead us to believe that our analysis is not unfounded.
Why is Vladimir Martus, captain-owner of « Shtandart », a fake opponent to Putin’s regime?
We think that the French intelligence services should be interested in the results of our analysis of Russian texts, including those from the hand of Vladimir Martus, the captain-owner of the « Shtandart ». These show that this Russian citizen is not the opponent he claims to be since 2009. On the contrary, he is close to the circles of Russian power. As an example, we will simply mention, here, his official embassy, in October 2021, in the Aegean Sea, organized by the « Russian Geographical Society », headed by Sergei Shoigu, sponsored by Vladimir Putin and financed by the Presidential Grants Fund.
Please, sign the « Letter of Ukrainian women to Mrs. Brigitte Macron and Mrs. Olena Zelenska » demanding the effective application of the 5th round of sanctions to the Russian ship « Shtandart » (French and Ukrainian).
Bernard Grua
Spokesman of the #NoShtandartIneurope committee, French Navy Lieutenant (reserve), co-founder and former spokesman of the « No Mistrals for Putin » international committee, contributor to Laurent Chamontin’s book « Ukraine and Russia, to understand », contributor to « Russia Beyond », « Ukraine Crisis Media Center », « Ukrinform », etc
Exhibit
Letter from the « National Authority of Intelligence and Customs Investigations » (DNRED) to the organizers of the « Gulf of Morbihan week » festival.
Dear Madam,
The Russian vessel SHTANDART is known to our services. To our knowledge, it does not belong to a listed entity.
Since April 16, 2022, we are regularly questioned about its situation, given the entry into force of new rules applicable to Russian vessels: under article 3ea of the Council Regulation (EU) No 833/2014 consolidated text concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine, « it is be prohibited to provide access, after 16 April 2022, in the territory of the Union, to any vessel registered under the flag of Russia« .
A document from the « Directorate General of Treasury » (DGT), includes the scope of the sanctions to the following categories of vessels:
- a vessel falling within the scope of the relevant international conventions (the SOLAS, MARPOL or International Convention on Load Lines). In practice, this means vessels of 500 GT and above (from the smallest to the largest) that are operating commercially in international navigation;
- a yacht of 15 meters or more in length, not carrying cargo and not carrying more than twelve passengers;
- or (c) a recreational craft or personal watercraft as defined in Directive 2013/53/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council (*5).
The local maritime authorities, including those of La Rochelle, have classified the vessel as a « traditionally built vessel » outside the scope of Regulation (EU) 833/2014, as it is not considered a « pleasure craft » or a « cargo ship », which de facto excludes it from the categories of vessels subject to the scope of Regulation (EU) 833/2014 as amended. This classification has not been challenged by the DGT.
Yours sincerely
CP Division – International Sanctions
National Authority of Intelligence and Customs Investigations
Customs Investigations Department
No Shtandart In Europe 