Why will, very soon, the sanctioned ship « Shtandart » represent Russian interests in Norway?

Publié parBernard GruaPublié dansShtandartÉtiquettes :, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Vladimir Martus, the Russian fraudster who is the skipper and hidden owner of the Shtandart, delivered his usual stream of lies to the Norwegian Directorate for Export Control and Sanctions.
Vladimir Martus, the Russian fraudster who is the skipper and hidden owner of the Shtandart, delivered his usual stream of lies to the Norwegian Directorate for Export Control and Sanctions. But he did even better than that. He placed himself on an equal footing with the Norwegian authorities. He reserved, for himself, the right to act as he wishes, according to his ‘interpretation’ of the law or to his fallacious presentation of the ‘spirit of the sanctions policy’.

We have sent a letter detailing what the outlaw is trying to hide, and debunking the disinformation spread by this Moscow propaganda agent. It is high time that the vatnik and his gopniks gang are firmly reminded that Norway is neither Russia nor Ukrainian territory occupied by the Russian army.

To:
Direktoratet for eksportkonroll og sanksjoner (DEKSA)
Snarøyveien 36
1364 Fornebu
Norway

Copies:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Norway
Embassy of Ukraine in the Kingdom of Norway
Ukrainian associations in the Kingdom of Norway

Subject: Why will, very soon, the sanctioned ship Shtandart represent Russian interests in Norway?

23 July 2025

Dear Sir/Madam,

According to its programme, the sanctioned Russian ship Shtandart  MMSI 518999255 plans to call in Norway at

  • Kristiansand, from 30 July to 1 August 2025;
  • and Sandefjord from 15 to 17 August 2025.

We have read the open letter sent to you by Vladimir Martus, the captain and hidden owner of the Russian ship, regarding the Norwegian port sanctions regime.

We note that this letter falls far short of the objective it claims to have set itself, which is to provide clarification. In fact, it creates confusion.

That’s why we are going to present you with some important facts that have been glossed over. We will address the anachronisms in Vladimir Martus’s account by providing a clear timeline of events divided into three distinct periods:

  • before 24 February 2022 (launch of the full-scale invasion);
  • between 24 February 2022 and 24 June 2024 (the European Council’s clarification)
  • and after 24 June 2024.

We will also highlight elements of misinformation and expose the scheme devised to incorporate the Shtandart into the Russian shadow fleet.

I sincerely apologise for the length of this text. However, in a case like this, it is not possible to be satisfied with unfounded allegations. We must rely on documented, verifiable facts. I can also send you a copy of my passport if you wish so.

  1. Registration and Jurisdiction
  2. Ownership and Management
  3. History and Legal Context
  4. Cultural Mission and Peaceful Role
  5. Legal Standing and Interpretative Space 

Conclusion
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On the same topic

1. Registration and Jurisdiction

The change from a Russian flag to a Cook Islands flag of convenience on June 6, 2024, was solely intended to bypass sanctions. As will be explained below, the Shtandart MMSI 518999255, whose captain is Russian, is still a Russian ship. It is owned by a Russian citizen and managed by a Russian company. It works for Russian interests.

2. Ownership and Management

Based on the ownership transfer validation that we could not verify, it seems that the Shtandart‘s property has been transferred from ‘Shtandart Project’. This company is domiciled in Saint Petersburg. Vladimir Martus owns more than 60% of its shares. According to the certificate of registration, the new “owner” of the Shtandart is Maria (Mariia) Martus. She is a Russian citizen and Vladimir Martus’s daughter. She studied in Helsinki and subsequently obtained a Finnish passport. She is a nominee owner who is used to circumvent sanctions.

We have three questions: First, was this « purchase » by a « Finnish citizen » of a boat belonging to a company domiciled in Saint Petersburg signed in La Rochelle, France? Do European sanctions allow a Finnish citizen to “purchase” a Russian vessel? Finally, is this transaction legal?

According to the attached attestation, the managing owner of the Shtandart is a “German” commercial company, « Martus TV GmbH ». The Russian citizen Vladimir Martus owns 80% of “Martus TV GmbH”. The remaining 20% of the shares belong to another Russian citizen, Irina Ermakova. Ermakova is Vladimir Martus’s wife. Vladimir Martus is the president and managing director of « Martus TV GmbH ». « Martus TV GmbH » is, then, a 100% Russian company with no activity, employees, or assets in Germany except a mailbox. It should be noted that in this document, Vladimir Martus claims to be a dual national: Russian and Ukrainian. In fact, he is only a Russian citizen.

Consequently, the de facto owner of the private yacht Shtandart MMSI 518999255 is the Russian citizen Vladimir Martus, the skipper of the ship. Depending on the context and interlocutors, Martus can introduce himself as the owner of the Shtandart. He can also pretend that the owner is a “Finnish citizen” when it is convenient for him.

Vladimir Martus obtained a German residency permit because he owns, presides over, and manages « Martus TV GmbH, » which is domiciled in a Hamburg post office box. However, he doesn’t live there. He lives on board the Shtandart. He uses an address in La Rochelle, France,  where the Shtandart has been based for more than three years, in violation of Article 3ea of EU Regulation No. 833/2014.

Vladimir MARTUS
Commandant du navire école SHTANDART
Réplique historique du Tsar Pierre 1er LE GRAND
Capt Vladimir MARTUS c/o Patrice BERNIER
Bureau du port
1 Rue de l’Armide,
17000 La Rochelle, France

This is thanks to the Russian network of influence within the French state apparatus and thanks to local accomplices, such as Jean-François Fountaine, the former mayor and shipbuilder who exports yachts to Russia; Brice Blondel, the Charente-Maritime prefect and former head of Emmanuel Macron’s office; Patrice Bernier, the dockmaster for the La Rochelle marina; and Michel Balique, the president of the « Amis des Grands Voiliers – Sail Training Association France. »

3.1. The Shtandart, a symbol of Saint Petersburg until 2007

The construction of the Shtandart was supported by the Saint Petersburg municipality. The mayor at the time was Anatoly Sobchak, who had Vladimir Putin as his close advisor on international affairs. It is rumoured that Vladimir Putin is the godfather of Ksenia Sobchak, Anatoly Sobchak’s daughter. Between 1999 and 2007, the Shtandart was an emblem of Saint Petersburg, as reported by RIA Novosti and other Russian media outlets. The ship was involved in all major public events of Saint Petersburg. During this period, the Shtandart was closely associated with the Saint Petersburg governor, Valentina Matviyenko. It is said that she belongs to the small circle of people around Vladimir Putin. Since September 2011, she has been the Chairwoman of the Federation Council.

3.2. The flight from Saint Petersburg and the reasons for not returning, from 2007 to 2022

In 2007, Vladimir Martus, confident in his krysha, violated safety regulations and got into a fight with Dmitry Atlashkin, the Head of the North-West Department of State Marine and River Supervision at the Ministry for Transport. As a result, the Shtandart was detained in port.

Thanks to its krysha, in 2009 the Shtandart was permitted to travel, without a crew, to Kotka in Finland, being towed by a tugboat to undergo safety improvements. However, once in Kotka, the Shtandart‘s crew were brought on board and Vladimir Martus decided to sail to Naryan-Mar, near Arkhangelsk, to perform at a festival the Shtandart had been contracted to play at. Unfortunately, inspectors from Dmitry Atlashkin’s department were waiting there. The Shtandart escaped to Europe and never returned.

In July 2020, however, Vladimir Martus announced on Instagram, Facebook, VK, on his website and in Russian newspapers that the dispute had been resolved. Since then, the Shtandart has been able to return to Saint Petersburg freely. All legal claims have been dropped.

The litigation was resolved because the Russian Geographical Society and the Russian Presidential Administration chartered the Shtandart for a diplomatic mission to Greece to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the victory in the Battle of Chesma. Originally scheduled for September–October 2020, the expedition was postponed to 2021 due to the pandemic.

Since then, the Shtandart has not returned to Russia because European maritime festivals are profitable, and the Neva River is frozen for almost four months of the year, which is not conducive to business. We suspect that the Shtandart may be carrying out other missions in Western countries, as evidenced by a recent press release from the Russian Consulate General in Aberdeen.

See also:

3.3. The truth about Spanish and French ‘authorisations’ between 16 April 2022 and 24 June 2024.

The Shtandart received just one official Spanish authorisation. It was for Pasaia (Pasajes) in May 2022. This authorisation was based on the fake allegation that Emmanuel Macron had officially agreed to stopovers in French ports. We debunked this claim. Consequently, the Shtandart was prohibited from attending the ‘Ruta Iacobus Maris’ in Vigo in July 2022.

There was never any official authorisation for stopovers in France. Only informal pass-throughs were permitted, and these should not have been made public. Since their publication by Martus and his lawyers, the compromised officials have remained silent. This is evidence that Vladimir Martus has accomplices within the French state apparatus. The most important of these is Éric Turquet de Beauregard, head of the legal department at the Secretariat General for the Sea (SGMer). He is one of the officials who forced a false version of the sanctions and pressured the departmental prefects not to apply EU regulations to the Shtandart.

The European Council voted an amendment on 24 June 2024 via CFSP Decision No. 2024/1744, which was enacted in Regulation No. 2024/1745, to stop this fallacious rewriting of EU regulation. It clarifies that replicas of historical ships are subject to EU sanctions.

 ..it is appropriate to clarify the scope of the port access ban for Russian-flagged vessels..

(13) CFSP Decision No. 2024/1744

(7) Article 3ea is amended as follows:
…
(b) in paragraph 3, point (a) is replaced by the following:
‘(a) a ship falling within the scope of the relevant international conventions, including replicas of historical ships;’..

Regulation No. 2024/1745

However, prior to 24 June 2024, the Shtandart was already banned from visiting certain ports or taking part in maritime festivals. These included Sète, Bordeaux, Vigo, La Coruña, Lorient, Granville, Brest, Castellón, Dénia, Paimpol…

3.4. From 24 June 2024, enforcement of port sanctions and court decisions, all unfavourable to the sanctioned Russian ship Shtandart

After 24 June 2024, French prefects issued orders to enforce the EU regulation in the departments of Finistère (Brest), Côtes d’Armor (Saint-Brieuc), Ille-et-Vilaine (Rennes), Manche (Saint-Lô). The ban applies to all ports in these departments. Ultimately, the Shtandart fraud continues to occur only in Morbihan (Vannes) and Charente-Maritime (La Rochelle) in France. Our whistleblower collective is investigating these prefects for compromising with Russian interests.

The Shtandart challenged the Finistère prefect’s order in the Rennes Administrative Court. It lost on 11 July 2024. The Shtandart then appealed against the decision of the Rennes court in the French Supreme Court (Conseil d’État). It lost on 18 November 2024. What follows was written by Vladimir Martus to lure the Norwegian authorities.

“We acknowledge that certain port authorities, such as in Brest, may have adopted alternative legal interpretations. These have been formally challenged in both the French Supreme Court and the European Court of Justice. We await final rulings.”

Vladimir Martus letter to Norwegian Directorate for Export Control and Sanctions

Vladimir Martus’s only argument is that the 24 June 2024 amendment was an ‘extension’ that occurred after the Shtandart changed its flag. He claims that applying sanctions to the Russian ship is therefore ‘not legally grounded’, as this would imply “retroactivity ». It is clear to everyone that this is ridiculous because the amendment was a CLARIFICATION not an ‘extension’. However, thanks to his control over the media, Vladimir Martus is confident in his ability to promote an alternative reality and pressure the authorities.

4. Cultural Mission and Peaceful Role

4.1. Vladimir Martus: “The vessel has never displayed Russian state symbols”

After 24 February 2022, prior to its change of country of registration on 6 June 2024, the Shtandart systematically flew the Russian national flag, the Russian imperial flag, and the Russian war flame. After this date, alongside the flag of the Cook Islands, it continued to fly the Russian war flame occasionally and the Russian imperial flag consistently.

Shandart, imperial flag
Shandart sailing sailing under imperial flag

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

It is also possible to check the Shtandart’s profiles on Marine Traffic and Vessel Finder. Although these accounts were created after the Shtandart was registered in the Cook Islands, the ship is depicted flying the Russian national flag, the Russian imperial flag and the Russian war flame.

4.2. Vladimir Martus: “(Shtandart‘s) leadership and crew have consistently condemned the aggression of the Russian state, both in 2014 and in 2022”.

Since 2014, Martus has prohibited any discussion of politics on board the Shtandart. In Russia, ‘not talking about politics’ has a different meaning to that in Western countries. It simply means not making negative comments about the Russian government.

In 2014, there was no evidence that the Shtandart or Vladimir Martus had condemned the annexation of Crimea or the start of the Russian proxy war in Donbass. In fact, Martus celebrated the boarding, by Russian sailors, of the Khersones, a Ukrainian tall ship stolen during the annexation of Crimea. When questioned in Brest on 16 July 2024 about Crimea’s ownership, Martus answered, ‘Crimea belongs to those who live there’, despite ten years of Russification, ethnic cleansing, Tatar persecution, the exodus of discriminated Ukrainians, and the transfer of a Russian population to Crimea. This is another version of Tsar Nicholas I’s words: ‘Where the Russian flag is raised, it should never be lowered’. This is also similar to what Vladimir Putin proclaimed on 20 June 2025: ‘Wherever a Russian soldier sets foot, that’s ours’.

Regarding Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine from 24 February 2022, Martus claims to be against the war and in favour of peace. However, this is no different to the propaganda coming out of Moscow. There, propaganda agencies claim to oppose a war launched by ‘Ukrainian Nazis’ and NATO. They also support “peace”, but only on Russian terms. Vladimir Martus sometimes uses a smokescreen, stating that he cannot speak out against the Russian war in order to protect his family. However, he claims to have no further links with Russia and says he has been living in Germany for 14 years.

4.3. Vladimir Martus: “TS SHTANDART remains a unique symbol of peace, youth development, and international friendship”.

In every conflict, there are collaborators. It’s nothing new. But in the case of the Shtandart, it might be even simpler. The Shtandart’s crew people we met in Brest, on 16 July 2024, are pleased to be under the dominance of a guru, Vladimir Martus. They don’t think for themselves. These worshippers repeat the language elements prepared by Martus. After two or three sentences, however, they get lost. They start repeating Moscow’s anti-Western and Ukrainian-phobic rhetoric. The Shtandart is a formidable Russification machine.

The Shtandart never officially had the status of a training ship. However, until 2007, it did carry out a similar assignment for the Saint Petersburg Political Committee for Youth. Its aim was to promote Russian patriotism. 

Учебные плавания на фрегате « Штандарт » входят в программу « Школа жизни – паруса Истории », поддержанную комитетом по молодежной политике и связям с общественными организациями администрации Санкт-Петербурга.
Training voyages on the frigate ‘Sthandart’ are part of the programme ‘School of Life – Sails of History’ supported by the political committee for Youth and Relations with Public Organisations of St. Petersburg Administration.

RIA Novosti, 25/02/2004 – В Петербурге будет объявлен конкурс по отбору участников плавания « Штандарта »

Since 2007, the Shtandart has acted in accordance with its actual status as a privately owned yacht, paid for attending maritime events. Between festivals, the Shtandart carries paying passengers, who are called ‘trainees’, in order to bypass the SOLAS convention.

4.4. Vladimir Martus: “The general public in ports such as Dublin, Cherbourg, and Brest have warmly welcomed her”

a) Outrage in Spain

Spain should be mentioned first. On 24 July 2024, the maritime authorities formally communicated a ban on all their ports to the Shtandart.

Three days later, the sanctioned Russian ship was banned from Spanish territorial waters due to its numerous infractions.

b) Dublin, Cherbourg, and Brest, what welcome ?

Vladimir Martus writes that he was warmly welcomed in ports such as Dublin, Cherbourg and Brest. We will not list all the flash mobs and demonstrations held to denounce the Shtandart‘s fraud against the sanctions in France, Ukraine and Spain. We will focus on the cities he mentioned.

The Shtandart‘s last unannounced stopover in Cherbourg on 21 May 2024 was hidden. It lasted just a few hours. There is no evidence of a warm welcome.

The Shtandart attempted an unannounced stopover in Brest on 1 June 2024. Ukrainian activists alerted the authorities. The only ‘welcome’  the sanctioned Russian ship got was an anti-Shtandart demonstration and the stopover was forbidden by the maritime authorities. On 7 July 2024, the first French Préfectoral order was issued against the Shtandart. The Russian ship was banned from all ports in the Finistère department, including Brest, where it had been scheduled to participate in a major maritime festival. However, on 11 July 2024, the Shtandart attempted to enter the roadstead of Brest. It was stopped by a French Navy patrol boat. Despite an intensive media campaign and « humanitarian » blackmail, Vladimir Martus could not bypass this prohibition.

After it turned off its AIS (Automatic Identification System) on 6 July 2025, the Shtandart’s unannounced stopover in Dublin was prohibited and enforced by the Irish Coastguard. Instead, the Shtandart moored in Killiney Bay on 7 and 8 July 2025, under the strict control of Ukrainian activists and the Irish Coastguard. Then, on 9 July 2024 at 00:00 UTC, the Russian ship performed an unannounced and unauthorised night stopover in the small port of Clogherhead. The Irish government has taken this seriously. An investigation is underway.

It should be noted that, when talking to the media, Vladimir Martus portrays himself and the Shtandart as victims of an unjust ban from all European ports. However, when he writes to the authorities, he claims that his ship is authorised everywhere except for minor exceptions.

c) Other incidents during the Shtandart’s summer tour until 22 July 2025.

Regarding the Shtandart’s summer tour in 2025, it should be noted that the sanctioned Russian ship was scheduled to depart from Saint-Malo on 2 July 2024, following opposition from the Jersey government to a stopover in its harbours. However, access to all ports in the Ille-et-Vilaine department, including Saint-Malo, was forbidden by the prefect. Consequently, the Russian ship attempted to enter the ports in the neighbouring Côtes d’Armor department. This was also forbidden by the prefect. Ultimately, the Shtandart could only moor off the small marina in Saint-Cast-le-Guildo, from where it left for Falmouth, though it did not stop there.

In the UK, the Shtandart was prohibited to access all ports, including Aberdeen where it planned to attend the Tall Ship Races without prior authorisation from maritime authorities. It did, however, make an unauthorised stopover in Inverie on 13 and 14 July. Inverie is a small, isolated village on the western coast of Scotland, not connected to the UK road system. After switching off its AIS (Automatic Identification System) again, the Shtandart attempted to make another stopover at Scapa Pier in the Orkney Islands on 17 July 2025. The Russian ship was expelled by the coastguard.

We are aware that national authorities must act in accordance with their own interpretations of sanction regulations. However, we believe that in this specific case, the spirit and letter of Norwegian and EU sanction policy both support an exemption for the TS SHTANDART.

Vladimir Martus letter to Norwegian Directorate for Export Control and Sanctions

Martus, a Russian citizen, dares to suggest that the authorities of the country he is visiting are permitted by him to act in accordance with their INTERPRETATION of the law. This is either a deliberate provocation or an expression of deep contempt. These Western authorities are not Russian; they enforce their regulations according to the rule of law. Furthermore, the vatnik attempts to explain the « spirit of the sanctions policy » to the host authorities. It’s beyond comprehension. The fifth round of restrictive measures was taken to sanction Russia for the Bucha massacre, as stated by the European Council. It’s clear. It cannot be rewritten by Russian revisionists.

What follows is even more unacceptable. Vladimir Martus states, ‘All parties retain the right to uphold their interpretation without violating the law’. In other words, the Russian fraudster is placing himself on an equal footing with the Norway authorities. He reserves the right to act as he wishes, according to his « interpretation » of the law or his presentation of the « spirit of the sanctions policy ». This outlaw and his gopniks should be firmly reminded that Norway is neither Russia nor a Ukrainian territory occupied by the Russian army.

Conclusion

To argue that the Shtandart would no longer be Russian because it is flying a flag of convenience, is owned by a Finnish citizen and is managed by a German company is far from reality. This is merely window dressing. What we have here is an arrangement designed to circumvent sanctions for the benefit of Russian private and political interests.

Thank you for taking the time to read this text to the end. If your services have any questions I will be happy to answer them in writing or by WhatsApp. Similarly, I am at the disposal of the Norwegian intelligence services to share with them any or all of the thick documentation we have accumulated over the last three years on the outlaw Martus and on the ship Shtandart, ambassador of Russian imperialist propaganda.

Sincerely yours,

Bernard Grua, Nantes, Brittany, France
Former French Navy Officer
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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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 Mitral invasion vessels to Putin's Russia, contributor to French and foreign media for culture, heritage and geopolitics.