To the attention of:
European Commission
DG for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union (FISMA)
August 12, 2024
Dear Madam, Dear Sir,
Thank you for your letter of 12 July, which is attached. As you announced following the clarification provided by the 14th part of the sanctions, on 24 June 2024, « Any replica of a historic ship flying the Russian flag or having flown the Russian flag before 24 February 2022 may not call at a port of a Member State ». The aim was to put an end to the misleading rewriting of the Union’s regulations by the network of influence of the Russian ship Shtandart operating within the French State apparatus. In some « départements » (counties), the clarification has been taken into account. On the other hand, the sanctions fraud continues in La Rochelle with the complicity of Brice Blondel, Prefect of Charente-Maritime. The stopover on 5 and 6 August bears witness to this.
The regulatory framework for the Shtandart‘s illegal stopover in La Rochelle is unambiguous.
France allowed the Russian sailing frigate Shtandart to dock in its port despite EU sanctions over Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, AFP reported on Aug. 7, citing an unnamed port source.
https://kyivindependent.com/russian-sailing-frigate-docks-in-french-port-despite-sanctions-afp-reports/
The ban on access to EU ports, which applies to the Shtandart, may be subject to exceptions in the event of an emergency. But the grounds of such exceptions are precisely defined.
Council Regulation (EU) No 833/2014, article 3ea
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02014R0833-20240625
4. Paragraphs 1 and 1a shall not apply in the case of a vessel in need of assistance seeking a place of refuge, of an emergency port call for reasons of maritime safety, or for saving life at sea.
Circumventing sanctions is an offence punishable by criminal prosecution.
Inciting or aiding and abetting the commission of these offences is also punishable. In this context, being a public official is an aggravating circumstance.
Entering La Rochelle harbour on 5 August 2024, Shtandart had no shortage of water, food or fuel.
As a result of various infringements, the Shtandart was banned from Spanish territorial waters and expelled on 27 July 20241. The Russian vessel was nevertheless able to make a stopover in Cee, Cape Finisterre, Spain, on 30 July. The aim was to refuel the vessel in order to sail to Belfast, Northern Ireland, free of European sanctions. At least, that’s what the Spanish authorities have been told.
In its request, dated last Sunday (27/07/2024), the Shtandart asked for shelter for docking or anchoring in Spain due to a technical problem with an electrical generator. The request, extended yesterday (29/07), adds that for the planned voyage to Belfast (Northern Ireland), it needs more food and water for a crew of eleven, including two teenagers.
The General Director of the Merchant Navy, Gustavo Santana Hernández,… considered that maritime safety could be affected on its journey to Belfast, some 750 nautical miles away. This is why the forced stopover was authorised in the port of Cee.
El Faro de Vigo, 30/07/2024 — « La frégate russe Shtandart trouve de l’aide humanitaire dans le port de Cee pour continuer à naviguer.»
El Faro de Vigo, 30/07/2024 — « La fragata rusa Shtandart encuentra en el puerto de Cee la ayuda humanitaria para seguir navegando. »
From Cee to La Rochelle, it’s 400 nautical miles. So Shtandart, bunkered for almost twice that distance, can’t be short of anything when it passes through the « Bassin des Chalutiers » lock.
On 5 August 2024, Shtandart was not in La Rochelle by accident or for an emergency. The illegal stopover was planned in advance.
Shortly after setting sail from Cee, passing Corcubión (CCN) on 30 July at 12:28 UTC, the Shtandart indicated on Marine Traffic that it was no longer heading for Belfast, but for the port of La Rochelle La Pallice (LPE). This is a destination prohibited by European sanctions.
The Shtandart is due to arrive in La Rochelle on 5 August 2024 at 2:00 UTC. Vladimir Martus, the skipper, lied to the Director of the Spanish Merchant Navy.
The Charente-Maritime prefecture is unable to justify the special dispensation it has granted to the Shtandart on 5 and 6 August 2024.
In accordance with the European Commission‘s instructions, the general coordination of sanctions in France is carried out by the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs. The prefects are responsible for applying port sanctions in their « département », with the exception of the « Grands ports maritimes et fluviaux » (Rouen/Le Havre, Dunkerque, Nantes/Saint-Nazaire, La Rochelle, Bordeaux and Marseille).
This provision was confirmed by the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs, Fisheries and Aquaculture (DGAMPA) on 29 December 2023.
On 7 July 2024, the Prefect of Finistère issued an order banning the presence of Shtandart in the ports of his « département »2. This order was upheld by the Rennes Administrative Court on 11 July 20243. For his part, the Prefect of La Manche pointed out that Shtandart was banned from European ports and, as a result, from the Festival of Working Sails in Granville between 21 and 25 August 2024. The Russian press reported this on 5 August4. The French press reported on 9 August5. For their part, the Spanish maritime authorities explained, in detail, why and how they authorised a stopover, very closely supervised and limited in time, to refuel the Shtandart before its (false) departure for Belfast6. Quite rightly, they refered to paragraph 4 of Article 3ea of EU Regulation No 833/2014 presented above.
On 1 August 2024, the Union des Ukrainiens de France, the Ukraine-Atlantique association based in La Rochelle and the No Shtandart In Europe whistleblower group wrote to Brice Blondel, Prefect of Charente-Maritime, and Sandrine Gourlet, Director General of the Port Atlantique La Rochelle. The addressees were alerted to the forthcoming visit of the Shtandart to La Rochelle and informed, in detail, of their responsibilities with regard to the application of port sanctions in their département. No reply was received.
The Russian vessel Shtandart, flying the flag of the Cook Islands, has been explicitly and officially banned from European ports by the Council of the European Union. It is the responsibility of the Director of the Atlantic Port of La Rochelle and the Prefect of Charente-Maritime to put a stop to the fraudulent use of the 5th round of sanctions in their department, in the same way as the Prefect of Finistère, whose order was upheld by the courts. By acting quickly, they will also spare themselves the illegal actions, blackmail and public order disturbances caused in Brest and Spanish Galicia by the captain and crew of this vessel… Read
On the contrary, Brice Blondel chose to allow the Russian vessel Shtandart, registered in the Cook Islands since 6 June 2024, to pass through the Bassin des Chalutiers lock at 5.00 am on 5 August 2024 to enter the port of La Rochelle. This is a clear breach of the EU regulation on port sanctions.
Council Regulation (EU) No 833/2014, article 3ea
- 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, and for such vessels to access ports and locks, with the exception of access to locks for the purpose of leaving the territory of the Union.
- Paragraph 1 shall apply to vessels that have changed their Russian flag or their registration, to the flag or register of any other State after 24 February 2022.
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02014R0833-20240625
It should be noted that the mayor of La Rochelle, Jean-François Fountaine, does not disapprove of this illegal entry, unlike David Samzun, the mayor of Saint-Nazaire, who was presented with the same fait accompli on 16 August 20237. It is true that the municipality of La Rochelle has been involved in circumventing the sanctions imposed by the Shtandart since 8 June 2022. It is even advertising it, via its tourist office.
Clearly, paragraph 4 of Article 3ea of EU Regulation No 833/2014 cannot cover the 36 hours spent by Shtandart in La Rochelle. Brice Blondel, the prefect, can find nothing to ‘justify’ the fraud of which he is an accomplice, apart from a fictitious red herring, a classic example of the fallacious rewriting of European texts in which the La Rochelle municipality, prefecture and press, as well as pro-Shtandart and/or pro-Russian networks of influence, have made a speciality of themselves for more than two years now 8.
The permission for the vessel to dock in La Rochelle was granted by the authorities of the Charente-Maritime department. They officially declined to comment, but the AFP source said it was a “technical stop” and there were no grounds for prohibiting it.
https://united24media.com/latest-news/france-allows-russian-firsts-frigate-replica-to-dock-despite-eu-sanctions-1612
« Technical stopover »? At least, we have confirmation that we’re not « in the case of a vessel in need of assistance seeking a place of refuge, of an emergency port call for reasons of maritime safety, or for saving life at sea. »
The ‘port source’ mentioned is probably one of the key players in the Shtandart fraud.
We have lost count of the number of times the Shtandart‘s network of influence has asserted that the Russian ship had all the necessary authorisations to enter French ports. Yet in over two years, no official authorisation was ever published. On the contrary, official texts, accessible to all, state that it has been banned. We have reason to believe that the ‘port source’ mentioned here is Patrice Bernier, « dock master » at the La Rochelle marina. In fact, along with Michel Balique, president of the Amis des grands voiliers association, and Ludovic Pacciarella, Vladimir Martus’ agent in La Rochelle, he was behind the installation of the Shtandart in the port of La Rochelle after the adoption of the 5th part of the sanctions. His style of making peremptory, unsourced assertions is evident here.
« This was authorized by the prefect of the Charente Maritime, who has authority over all ports, » a port source told AFP.
https://unn.ua/en/news/russian-sailing-ship-allowed-to-dock-in-the-french-port-of-la-rochelle
In fact, contrary to what the ‘port source’ claims, the Prefect of Charente-Maritime does not have authority over all the département’s ports. The port of La Pallice is under the responsibility of Sandrine Gourlet, Managing Director of the Port Atlantique La Rochelle, France’s sixth largest seaport. She is responsible for enforcing port sanctions in the area under her responsibility.
The source told the agency that the “Standart” arrived on Monday morning (05/08/2024 – 5:00 AM) and departed on Tuesday afternoon (06/08 – 18 h 00), adding that it is unclear where the ship will head next.
https://united24media.com/latest-news/france-allows-russian-firsts-frigate-replica-to-dock-despite-eu-sanctions-1612
On Vessel Finder and Marine Traffic, Shtandart announces Granville as its destination, with an expected arrival date of 21 August 2024.
Fifteen days is much longer than it takes to reach the Normandy port. In fact, the Shtandart‘s website indicates that its clients will be sailing from La Rochelle to Camaret from 12 to 17 August, before heading for Granville. Understandably, the ‘port source’ does not wish to speak about it.
Confusion is erected as a key principle for the Shtandart‘s case.
Vladimir Martus had challenged the prefectoral order before the Rennes administrative court, claiming to have “no links” with Vladimir Putin’s “regime”, but the court rejected his request.
https://www.courrierinternational.com/depeche/le-voilier-russe-shtandart-fait-escale-la-rochelle-en-depit-des-sanctions.afp.com.20240807.doc.36bd47n.xml
The order issued by the Prefect of Finistère makes no mention of any links between Vladimir Martus and the Russian regime. Moreover, this is not a criterion for applying the 5th round of sanctions. The order of the interim relief judge does not mention it either. This is the usual practice in this case, which consists of distracting from the fundamental problems and questions of law. But since the point is mentioned, it should be demystified.
Laetitia Jacq-Galdéano, a reporter for the newspaper Ouest-France, conducted an investigation over several weeks into the Shtandart case. She has documented Vladimir Martus’s links with the Russian presidential administration:
- Ouest-France: The Russian vessel Shtandart, authorised to dock in French ports, embarrasses its protectors – 29/03/2024
- Ouest-France: Putin’s opponent or propagandist, who is the captain of the Shtandart invited to Brittany? – 29/03/2024
Since the beginning of July 2024, dozens, even hundreds of articles favourable to the Shtandart have been published by a tightly controlled Russian press and by the Kremlin’s propaganda agencies (TASS, RBC, Ria Novosti, Lenta, Sputnik, RT…) with which Vladimir Martus is in almost daily contact.
- 09/07/2024, TASS: In France, the prefecture has banned a Russian frigate from docking to take part in a maritime festival (Brest)
- 14/07/2024, Ria Novosti: The frigate “Shtandart” has become a target for pro-Ukrainian activists in the EU (Interview with Vladimir Martus).
- 23/07/2024, Rbc.ru: Ukrainian activists demanded that the frigate “Shtandard” not be allowed to enter Spain.
- 23/07/2024, Rbc.ru: The captain of the Shtandart threatened to launch legal action for denial of access to EU ports (Interview with Vladimir Martus).
- 23/07/2024, Ria Novosti: “I find it extremely disgusting”: the reason given for refusing to let the Russian frigate “Shtandard” into a French port (Brest)
- 24/07/2024, Sputnik: A second EU country (Spain) did not allow the frigate “Standard” to enter the port
- 24/07/2024, TASS: Spain’s ports have received a circular banning the entry of the frigate “Shtandart”
- 25/07/2024, RT: Spain also closes its ports to the frigate Shtandart – Russian embassy gets involved
- 30/07/2024, Ria Novosti: The frigate “Shtandart” plans to take part in a festival in Normandy (Granville)
- 05/08/2024, Ria Novosti: Russian frigate will not be allowed to enter French port of Granville
- 05/08/2024, Tass: Russian sailing ship “Shtandard” allowed to enter French port (La Rochelle)
- 05/08/2024, Lenta.ru: Russian sailing ship allowed to enter French port (La Rochelle) despite sanctions
- etc.
The treatment of Vladimir Martus by the propaganda organs of the Russian regime is particularly benevolent. It is not the same as that given to those who oppose the war in Ukraine or the Russian regime. We can also see that, as far as the Russians are concerned, the Shtandart is indeed a Russian ship, even though it has been sailing under the flag of the Cook Islands since 6 June 2024. Better still, Vladimir Martus is Russia’s national hero for sanctions fraud:
- Komsomolskaya Pravda, August 6, 2024: « Russian sailing ship « Shtandart » will make a third attempt to violate European sanctions. »
- Spb Dnevnik, August 6, 2024: « Russian sailing ship « Shtandart » will again attempt to violate European sanctions. »
In Russia, the Shtandart’s visit to La Rochelle on 5 and 6 August 2024 is not seen as a humanitarian gesture or a ‘technical stopover’. It is seen as a French weakness and a Russian victory that calls for other ones.
Sincerely yours,
Bernard Grua
No Shtandart In Europe
Email: noshtandartineurope@gmail.com
Website: https://bit.ly/No-Shtandart
Facebook: groups/noshtandartineurope
WhatsApp
Notes
- Expulsion from Spanish territorial waters:
https://www.diariodearousa.com/articulo/o-salnes/fragata-rusa-shtandart-ojo-polemica-fondeada-illa-4943487
https://www.lavozdegalicia.es/noticia/somosmar/2024/07/28/capitania-expulsa-fragata-rusa-fondeo-illa-autorizacion/0003_202407A28C1991.htm
https://www.elmundo.es/espana/2024/07/27/66a5443de9cf4ab9268b4572.html ↩︎ - Order of the Prefect of Finistère, June 7, 2024: https://www.finistere.gouv.fr/contenu/telechargement/63517/482306/file/2024.07.07…htandart.pdf ↩︎
- Order of July 11, 2024 by the interim relief judge at the Rennes court rejecting the request for suspension of the Finistère prefect’s order: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XBavDiEPaxXRmp6mNS4QZQcqylRtD7TU/ ↩︎
- Ria Novosti (Ru), 05/08/2024 : https://ria.ru/20240805/shtandart-1964120126.html ↩︎
- La Manche Libre : https://www.lamanchelibre.fr/actualite-1128607-info-la-manche-libre-granville-la-fregate-russe-shtandart-ne-pourra-pas-faire-escale ↩︎
- El Faro de Vigo, 30/07/2024 – « La frégate russe Shtandart trouve de l’aide humanitaire dans le port de Cee pour continuer à naviguer. »
El Faro de Vigo, 30/07/2024 — « La fragata rusa Shtandart encuentra en el puerto de Cee la ayuda humanitaria para seguir navegando. » ↩︎ - Statement by David Samzun, August 16, 2023: Réaction à la venue potentielle d’une frégate russe dans le bassin nazairien ↩︎
- Case: why is La Rochelle harbour occupied by the Russian ship «Shtandart » ? ↩︎
Attachment
Receipts
More information on Franco-Russian fraud on sanctions in the port of La Rochelle
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The "Shtandart" In Europe 
Mais quelle honte Monsieur, votre soit disant morale insulte tous les marins du monde. Vous confondez politique et culture, politique et passion. Saviez vous que le père du Capitaine est ukrainien? Et que cette frégate accueille aussi des ukrainiens? Par pitié, trouvez vous d’autres centres en intérêts, vous direz moins de bêtises ..
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Merci pour votre intérêt. Si vous avez des questions précises, n’hésitez pas.
J’aimeJ’aime
quel niveau de bêtise affligeant !
Ce navire est à la fois le symbole de la capacité de réaliser les rêves les plus fous (voir l histoire de la construction du bateau) et celui du partage.
s y attaquer relève de l obscurantisme le plus minable.
croyez vous que votre croisade va changer quelque chose à la guerre ?
vous feriez pitié si votre action n était pas si criminelle.
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Je vous remercie, Frederic Decamps, pour l’intérêt que vous manifestez concernant notre action exigeant la complète application du 5e volet des sanctions pris à la suite des massacres russes de Boutcha.
Votre note aide au référencement de cet article sur les moteurs de recherche. N’hésitez pas à en rajouter une couche, quitte à continuer à écrire n’importe quoi. Insultes, diatribes pro-putin, propos révélant une ignorance crasse, commentaire auquel il a déjà été répondu dans l’article, soyez sans crainte. Les termes que vous choisirez n’ont aucune espèce d’importance.
Ce qui compte, c’est le volume. Plus c’est long, plus c’est efficace. Vous pouvez inviter, ici, vos copains, les amis du régime russe qui supportent, avec tant de ferveur, le sulfureux faux dissident Vladimir Martus et sa barque, le Shtandart, arborant l’étendard impérial, synonyme de tant de crimes.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/frederic-decamps-6a703114a/
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