It took two years for the French rule of law in to take action against the Shtandart scandal, which violates EU sanctions because of the power of Russian networks of influence. We owe this to the Spanish example, to a small handful of professional journalists and to a call to order from the European Council. Thanks to them, 2024 will have been the year of 14 great victories.
Українською
- Castelló (Castellón), Valencian Community, Spain – March 2024
- Brittany – March 2024
- Dénia, Valencian Community, Spain – April 2024
- Paimpol, Côtes-d’Armor, Brittany – April 2024
- Brest, Finistère, Brittany – May 2024
- European Union – June 2024
- Brest and Camaret, Finistère, Brittany – July 2024
- Goulet de Brest , Finistère, Brittany – July 2024
- Rennes Administrative Court, Brittany – July 2024
- Vigo, Galicia, Spain – July 2024
- Spanish territorial waters – July 2024
- Granville, Manche, Normandy – August 2024
- Cancale, Ille-et-Vilaine, Brittany – August 2024
- Council of State, France – November 2024
For 2025, let’s keep mobilized!
The good news from 2024
Until the first successes of 2024, the only achievements of the ‘No Shtandart In Europe’ collective were a ban on the Shtandart‘s participation in the ‘Ruta Iacobus Maris’ in Vigo and a stopover prohibition in La Coruña in July 2022. This was thanks to Marta Skyba and her « Asociación de ucranianos en Galicia » (AUG Girasol), supported by the Asociación Galega de Axuda a Ucraína » (AGA Ucraína). But from March 2024, everything changed.
1. 
Castelló (Castellón), Valencian Community, Spain – March 2024
On 26 March 2024, the Russian ship Shtandart, although included in the programme for the ‘Escala a Castelló’ maritime festival from 5 to 8 April 2024, is banned from taking part as a result of European sanctions.
Castellón información – « The Shtandart is a Russian propaganda tool and is banned from entering any European port » (Sp)
Credits: Oksana Vovk Simon and the ‘Asociación de Ucranianos KALYNA’
Instead, Vladimir Martus, captain and de facto owner of the Shtandart, makes arrangements with the authorities to call at Dénia. But on the spot, the Ukrainian women give up nothing.
2. 
Brittany – March 2024
On 29 March 2024, an investigative journalist debunks the fiction of the Shtandart ‘anti-Putin ship’.
Ouest-France – The Russian ship Shtandart, authorised to dock in French ports, is embarrassing its protectors. (Fr)
Ouest-France – Putin’s opponent or propagandist, who is the captain of the Shtandart invited to Brittany? (Fr)
Credits: Laetitia Jacq-Galdeano and Marie Desevedavy, Ouest-France newspaper
3. Dénia, Valencian Community, Spain – April 2024
On 5 April 2024, the Shtandart‘s stopover in Dénia from 5 to 8 April 2024, although officially announced by the municipality, the port authorities and the tourist office, is banned in application of European sanctions.
Dénia.com – Shtandart frigate cancelled in Dénia (Sp)
Credits: Oksana Vovk Simon, Vira Pidkovych Bilevych, the ‘Ayuda Ucrania Dénia’ association and the Ukrainian Consul in Spain
4. Paimpol, Côtes-d’Armor, Brittany – April 2024
On 22 April 2024, the Shtandart, although included in the programme for the ‘Fête des Vieux gréements’ in Paimpol in August 2024, is cancelled. The organisers don’t want to hear any more about the Russian ship.
Ouest-France – In Brittany, the Russian ship ‘Shtandart’ is no longer welcome in Paimpol (Fr)
Credits: Fanny Chappé, Mayor of Paimpol, Michel Le Coquil, President of the ‘Vieux gréements’ association, Marie Desevedavy, Ouest-France newspaper
5. Brest, Finistère, Brittany – May 2024
On 30 May 2024, the planned stopover by the Shandart in Brest on 1 and 2 June 2024 is prohibited.
Le Télégramme – Expected in Brest on Friday, the Russian sailing ship Shtandart will not be allowed to call at Brest. (Fr)
Credits: Svitlana Gestin and the ‘Association Iroise-Ukraine’
6. 
European Union – June 2024
On 24 June 2024, the European Council, i.e. the 27 Member States of the European Union, confirms that the Shtandart, even though it had passed under a flag of convenience on 6 June 2024, falls within the scope of European sanctions under the heading of ‘replicas of historical ships’.
RELEX-SANCTIONS@ec.europa.eu
12 Jul 2024 12:11
Mr Grua,
We acknowledge receipt of your letters of 9 March, 10 April and 28 June 2024 concerning the vessel « Shtandart ».
In the 14th round of 24 June 2024 (Council Regulation (EU) 2024/1745 amending Regulation (EU) No 833/2014), the scope of the ban on access to ports has been clarified to explicitly cover replicas of historic ships. Any replica of historic ships 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 implementation and application of EU sanctions are the responsibility of the Member States. The Commission, as guardian of the Treaties, supervises the implementation and application of the sanctions by the Member States and supports them in this task.
Please note that this answer represents the technical point of view of the Commission services. Only the Court of Justice of the EU has jurisdiction to interpret EU Law.
Yours sincerely,
European Commission
DG for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union (FISMA)
EU Sanctions Webpage: https://commission europa.eu/sanctions
EU Sanctions Map: https://sanctionsmap.eu
Credits: David O’Sullivan and the European Commission
7. Brest and Camaret, Finistère, Brittany – July 2024
On 7 July 2024, the Prefect of Finistère issues a decree applying the European port prohibition to all ports in the department. The Shtandart‘s participation in the ‘Fêtes maritimes de Brest’, from 12 to 17 July 2024, and in the ‘Voiles de Camaret’, from 16 to 18 August 2024, is cancelled.
Order by the Prefect of Finistère banning the Russian vessel ‘Shtandart’ from the department’s ports (Fr)
Credits: Jean-Charles Larsonneur MP, Svitlana Gestin and the ‘Association Iroise-Ukraine‘
8. Goulet de Brest , Finistère, Brittany – July 2024
Shtandart Project 10/07/2024
« We know that the Prefet of Finistere made his decision not to allow SHTANDART to enter to BREST-2024 Festival, and we think this decision is not based on proper legal background. We have protested against that decision in the court. We hope that sailors will support SHTANDART. We plan an entry on 11th July, meeting at Douarnenez’s bay, Cap de la Chèvre, to arrive together to la pointe de Toulinguet at around 13h30-14h00. Spread the word! »
shtandart #save-shtandart #brest #festival #friendship #friend-ship #petition #EU #sign
On 11 July 2024, the Shtandart, which is attempting to force its way into the Roadstead of Brest with other tall ships, is prevented from doing so by a French Navy patrol boat. Penalties, if breached, would have included seizure of the vessel and a fine of €150,000.
Le Télégramme – Pending the court decision, the Shtandart is waiting at the entrance to Roadstead of Brest under French navy surveillance. (Fr)
Credit: Vice-Admiral Jean-François Quérat, Maritime Prefect and Commander-in-Chief for the Atlantic
9. Rennes Administrative Court, Brittany – July 2024
On 11 July 2024, the Rennes Administrative Court rejects the application for suspension of the Finistère Prefect’s order filed by Thierry Clerc, Vladimir Martus’ lawyer.
Order of the Rennes Administrative Court dismissing the ‘Shtandart’ application for suspension of the Finistère prefectoral order (Fr)
Credit: European Council
10. 
Vigo, Galicia, Spain – July 2024
On the afternoon of 23 July, or the morning of 24 July 2024, the Shtandart, after crossing the Bay of Biscay and despite being on the programme for the ‘Iacobus Maris Experience’ in Vigo, has its participation cancelled. It is also informed of a prohibition on docking in all Spanish ports.
Outono.net – Spain vetoes the Russian frigate ‘Shtandart’, which intended to reach Vigo, in all its ports
Credits: Oscar Garcia Madarro, Maria Pavlenko, Vicente Fernandez Perles and the ‘Asociación Galega de Axuda a Ucraína (AGA Ucraína)’ (AGA Ucraína)
11. 
Spanish territorial waters – July 2024
On 27 July 2024, after numerous violations, the Shtandart, anchored in the port of Arousa, is expelled and banned from Spanish territorial waters.
El Mundo – Russian sailboat expelled from Spanish waters after anchoring in Galicia without permission (Sp)
El Debate – A Ukrainian association accuses the Russian frigate ‘TS Shtandart’ of collecting ‘data’ on maritime routes. (Sp)
Credits: Juan Andrés Pérez, Officer of the Vilagarcía de Arousa Harbour Master’s Office, Abel Losada, Government Sub-Delegate in Pontevedra, and Gustavo Santana Hernández, Director General of the Spanish Merchant Navy.
12. 
Granville, Manche, Normandy – August 2024
On 14 August 2024, the Prefect of La Manche issues a decree applying the European port ban to all ports of the département. The Shtandart, included in the programme for the ‘Voiles de travail’ festival in Granville from 21 to 25 August 2025, sees its participation cancelled.
La Manche Libre – Granville. Prohibition on the Shtandart calling at Granville: a decree published by the Prefecture (Fr)
13. Cancale, Ille-et-Vilaine, Brittany – August 2024
On 23 August 2024, the Shtandart tries to dock in Cancale. It is expelled by the gendarmerie and by order of the Prefect of Ille-et-Vilaine.
Actu Fr – The Russian ship Shtandart, arrived in Cancale, is banned from docking on the Ille-et-Vilaine coast. (Fr)
Credits: Pierre Quirion and Pierre-Yves Mahieu, Mayor of Cancale
14. 
Council of State, France – November 2024
On 18 November 2024, French Council of State dismisses the appeal lodged by Martus TV GMBH, Maria Martus and Vladimir Martus requesting suspension of the enforcement of the order of 7 July 2024 by which the Prefect of Finistère did not authorise the vessel Shtandart to enter the port of Brest and the other ports in his department.
French Council of State ruling rejecting Shtandart’s appeal against the order of the Rennes administrative court
Credit: European Council
Thanks you to the journalists such as Raphaël Baldos, Arthur Quentin, Gianni Castillo, Marie Desevedavy, Laetitia Jacq-Galdeano, Paul Bohec and Steven Leroy, who worked professionally, unlike the majority of their colleagues content to promote the syrupy and propagandist fiction of the Shtandart. Thanks you to the “Union des Ukrainiens de France” for its unfailing support. Thank you to our activists in Ukraine, Spain and France, whom we can’t name all. Thanks you to our supporters and to the friends of Ukraine for their kind attention and encouragement.
Happy New Year to all!
For 2025, let’s keep mobilized!
Since June 24, 2024, the Shtandart is continuing to violate European restrictive measures, as in Quiberon and, above all, La Rochelle. It can count on the still-powerful support of a network of influence extending right to the heart of the French state apparatus. In particular, it enjoys the complicity of Pascal Bolot, prefect of the Morbihan département, and Brice Blondel, prefect of the Charente-Maritime département, and former chief of staff to Emmanuel Macron. They are circumventing paragraph 4 of Article 3ea of Council Regulation (EU) No 833/2014 concerning the safeguarding of human life at sea.
4. Paragraphs 1 and 1a (port ban) 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.
Paragraph 4, article 3ea Council Regulation (EU) No 833/2014
Bolot and Blondel let the Russian ship embark or disembark paying passengers, called “trainees”, during “technical stopovers” for “refueling”. At the same time Shtandart is also open to paying visitors.
To put an end to these abuses, the “No Shtandart In Europe” collective will not give in until the French maritime authorities follow Spain’s example and ban the Russian vessel from France territorial waters.
Разом до перемоги!
Русский военный корабль, иди на хуй!
No Shtandart In Europe
Email: noshtandartineurope@gmail.com
Website: https://bit.ly/No-Shtandart
Facebook: groups/noshtandartineurope
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