Russia is sending ships to Moldova against the backdrop of the EU accession referendum

In the last few months, the Russians have been sending ships to the ports of Moldova, which may be a preparation for the disruption of the referendum.

Andrii Klymenko, head of the Monitoring Group of the Institute of Black Sea Strategic Studies, announced this.

He noted that the “Crimean” special operation of February 2014 may be repeated in Moldova through the port of Giurgiulesti. Then the first group of Russian special forces arrived at the sea fishing port in Kamysheva Bay (Sevastopol) a day before the beginning of the occupation. The Russians used an ordinary old cargo ship “Volga-Balt” for this.

Experts believe that the Russian Federation cannot carry out a serious operation to prevent a referendum in Moldova on joining the EU, because the countries do not have a common border. But the Russians invented direct flights from Novorossiysk and Tuapse to the Moldovan port of Giurgiulesti.

In July-September, the Monitoring Group of the Institute of Black Sea Strategic Studies recorded at least five direct flights of ships from Russian ports to Giurgiulesti. Of these, four vessels belong to Turkish shipowners, one to an offshore jurisdiction, the ultimate owner of which can be anyone.

The situation is complicated by the fact that, despite the presence of border control on the Danube (by Romania and Ukraine), peacetime international maritime law is in effect. There are principles of freedom of transit, and there are no regulatory documents instructing the border services to inspect such vessels in a “special period”.

Klymenko reminded that on October 20, Moldova is scheduled to hold a national referendum on whether the country should amend the Constitution regarding EU membership, in order to prevent possible attempts by future governments to change the course from a pro-European one.

He emphasized that at this time it is necessary to urgently introduce a “special period” for vessels on the Danube – in the Ukrainian and Romanian parts of it. And the border guards must inspect all premises and cargo of ships leaving the ports of the Russian Federation to the port of Giurgiulesti.

Direct flights of sea vessels from the ports of Russia on the Black Sea to the port of Giurgiulesti, Moldova, in July-September:

• Fortuna (IMO 7729966) — dry cargo ship, built in 1977, flag Comoros, deadweight — 3147 tons. Registered owner — Fortuna Maritime Corp, Turkey;

• Dremora 1 (IMO 9407029) is a dry cargo ship under the flag of St. Kitts and Nevis, built in 2008, deadweight — 5,453 tons. Owner — Modulus Shipping Ltd, Turkey;

• Elisa (IMO 8602000) is a dry cargo ship under the flag of Vanuatu, built in 1986, deadweight — 2307 tons. Owner — CMC Shipping Ltd, Turkey;

• Isik 4 (IMO 8906303) — dry cargo ship, built in 1990, flag of Vanuatu, dead weight — 4196 tons. Owner — Isik Maritime Ltd, Turkey;

• Volgo-Balt 242 (IMO 8230560) — dry cargo under the flag of Tanzania, year of construction — 1982, dead weight — 3472 tons. Owned by Gerda Marine Ltd, Seychelles.

It will be recalled that earlier the details of the Russian missile attack on the Odesa port became known. At the time of the missile attack, there were two Latvian ships in the port of Odesa.