Why does the Russian ship « Shtandart » fall under United Kingdom sanctions?

Publié parBernard GruaPublié dansShtandartÉtiquettes :, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
We have read the open letter written by  the Russian citizen Vladimir Martus, skipper of the Shtandart (MMSI: 518999255) to Aberdeen Port Authorities. His account does not present a fair vision of the situation. Having spent three years investigating this complex case of sanctions evasion, we are confident that we can provide you with a well-researched and evidenced demonstration of why the Shtandart is relevant to UK port sanctions.

To:
Mr Benji Morrison,
Aberdeen Harbour-Master

Copies:
– Right Honourable Heidi Alexander, Secretary of State for Transport
– Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI)
– Mr Martin Greig, Aberdeen Councillor
– Aberdeen HM Coastguard
– Tall Ships Aberdeen

Subject: Why does the Russian ship Shtandart fall under United Kingdom sanctions?

15 July 2025

Dear Mr Morrison ,

We have read the open letter written by  the Russian citizen Vladimir Martus, skipper of the Shtandart (MMSI: 518999255) to Aberdeen Port Authorities
https://shtandart.eu/open-letter-to-aberdeen-port-authorities-and-the-public/

His account does not present a fair vision of the situation. Having spent three years investigating this complex case of sanctions evasion, we are confident that we can provide you with a well-researched and evidenced demonstration of why the Shtandart is relevant to UK port sanctions.

1. What does UK legislation say about port sanctions for Russian ships?

Access to British ports is forbidden for « a ship owned, controlled, chartered or operated by persons connected with Russia » and/or for « a ship flying the Russian flag ».

On 28 February 2022, the British Secretary of State for Transport published an instruction closing UK ports for Russian ships. This instruction was quickly passed into UK legislation on 1 March 2022. What refers to Shtandart can be found here : 

2. Why does the Shtandart fall within the scope of UK sanctions?

2.1. The Shtandart is a Russian shadow property.

Until the middle of the first semester of 2024, the Shtandart was owned by the Saint Petersburg–based company “Shtandart Project”1, of which Vladimir Martus owns over 60%. Martus is a Russian citizen2. He was born, grew up, and studied in Saint Petersburg. He is the skipper and de facto owner of the ship. The Shtandart is now reportedly owned by a nominee: Mariia Martus3, Vladimir Martus’s daughter. She studied in Helsinki and obtained Finnish citizenship.

Martus has registered the trademark “Shtandart”4 5. He intends to use it as he pleases. He is now threatening legal action against anyone who mentions the name “Shtandart”6, even for informational or reference purposes, if they contradict his narrative. He wants to censor any facts that might be made public that do not correspond to the fiction he is promoting about the Shtandart and himself for the purpose of deception. Vladimir Martus behaves as the full and sole owner of the Shtandart.

As evidenced by its website7, the Shtandart‘s commercial services are invoiced and collected by the company “Martus TV GmbH”8, which is controlled and managed by Vladimir Martus, This limited liability company, domiciled in Hamburg under German law, is often misrepresented as an association to appeal to the public’s generosity. For example, the Shtandart claimed it was short on cash for its winter 2024/2025 dry docking and maintenance. It demanded public financial support via “Martus TV GmbH”9 [9].

Regardless of whether one is interested in its de jure or de facto owner, the Shtandart is a private commercial yacht. It is neither an association vessel nor a foundation-owned vessel, as is widely and falsely claimed. Furthermore, clients boarding the ship cannot be legally considered passengers. They are booked as « trainees » to bypass SOLAS convention requirements.

2.2. The Shtandart and its registration flags

The Shtandart was registered under the Russian flag until June 6, 2024, when it shifted to the flag of the Cook Islands10. Nevertheless, despite its false allegation that it no longer has any links with Russia, the propagandist continues to fly the Russian imperial flag at the top of the mainmast. This was visible throughout the recent « Gulf of Morbihan Week 2025 » (May 26 to June 1, 2025). Moreover, Vladimir Martus continues to cultivate close ties with Russian interests.

Shandart, imperial flag
Shandart sailing sailing under imperial flag
Shandart sailing with imperial flag

Russian imperial flag : « Gulf of Morbihan Week 2025 » (May 26 to June 1, 2025)

2.3. The Shtandart, Vladimir Martus, and Russian Interests

Martus claims to be an « opponent » of the Russian regime. In fact, he is close to the Russian regime and its propaganda outlets. The following is the documented and sourced result of the collective « No Shtandart for Europe » research:

It is also important to examine the in-depth work carried out by the Ouest-France Bretagne editorial team.

Additionally, it is worth reading:

If, as Vladimir Martus says, Standart is short on cash, one question arises: Who is paying for the frenzy of legal action launched by “Martus TV GmbH” and Vladimir Martus against the French authorities, the sanctions, and the European institutions?

The Shtandart is clearly “ a ship owned, controlled, chartered or operated by persons connected with Russia”. Vladimir Martus knows it perfectly.

We would also like to point out that the Shtandart’s unannounced stopover in Inverie, Loch Nevis, from 13 to 14 July 2025, was in breach of UK sanctions, customs formalities, and immigration procedures.

Had Vladimir Martus wished to seek clarification with the authorities, he would have chosen to stop at Mallaig instead, the port he passed on his way to and from Inverie, before heading south and west of the Isle of Skye. We believe that these offences could result in a ban from British territorial waters. This would be the most effective solution, as demonstrated by the Spanish authorities in a similar case on 27 July 202411.

We hope, Dear Mr Morrison, that you find this information useful. If you or your team have any further questions, we would be delighted to answer them, either in writing or over the telephone. 

Yours sincerely,
Bernard Grua, Nantes, Brittany, France
Spokesperson

Logo No Shtandart In Europe

No Shtandart In Europe
Email: noshtandartineurope@gmail.com
Website: https://bit.ly/No-Shtandart
Facebook: groups/noshtandartineurope
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Note

  1. List.org – Учредители АССОЦИАЦИЯ НП « ПРОЕКТ « ШТАНДАРТ » ↩︎
  2. German residence permit for Vladimir Martus, 25/07/2023 ↩︎
  3. Cook Islands, 06/06/2024 – Provisional flag of convenience certificate for the Russian vessel “Shtandart” ↩︎
  4. INPI, 09/07/2024 – Trademark FR : 5068280 – Shtandart ↩︎
  5. INPI, 23/08/2024 – Trademark FR : 5077604 – Shtandart ↩︎
  6. Formal notice received from lawyer Thierry Clerc, firm “Clerc and Partners”, regarding the Russian vessel “Shtandart” circumventing European sanctions — 31/10/2024 ↩︎
  7. Shandart – contact information and details ↩︎
  8. North Data – Martus TV GmbH, Hamburg ↩︎
  9. Martus TV GmbH – Make a donation  ↩︎
  10. Cook Islands, 06/06/2024 – Provisional flag of convenience certificate for the Russian vessel “Shtandart” ↩︎
  11. El Mundo, 27/07/2024 — Expulsan de aguas españolas a un velero ruso que fondeó en Galicia sin permiso. ↩︎

On the same topic

Publié par Bernard Grua

Graduated from Paris "Institut d'Etudes Politiques", financial auditor, photographer, founder and spokesperson of the worldwide movement which opposed to the delivery of Mistral invasion vessels to Putin's Russia, contributor to French and foreign media for culture, heritage and geopolitics.

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