Zakharova pointed to the transformation of the West into pirates of the 21st century

Western countries are turning into "pirates of the 21st century" because of the hijackings of ships in international waters. This was stated to Izvestia on June 3 by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).

"A few years ago, these Western countries talked about the need to fight piracy, adopted some statements, developed declarations, and insisted on resolutions. And now they themselves represent the very pirates of the 21st century, whom we used to see only on TV," she told Izvestia columnist Nikolai Ivanov.

Zakharova compared the situation to a series of films about the British special agent James Bond, who, according to the plot, was given a "license to kill." The diplomat stressed that the West now issues such permits, not only for the "destruction of maritime law," but also for international terrorism.

"A license is being issued to kill people. This license is issued by structures such as the Brussels Collective. Moreover, the ideological base is being brought under it through silence and through pressure on their own media. <...> It is being demonstrated to the international community that this is the new "normality," she noted.

According to Zakharova, such approaches are not new, but represent a repetition of practices that have already existed in world history. However, today they are implemented using modern information and technological capabilities.

"The point is that this is the most collective Western minority, it literally teaches the world community that the world is divided not just into a wild jungle and a beautiful garden, but that it is possible to destroy people without trial within this division. And in general, from their point of view, it should not cause any emotions: neither compassion nor sympathy," she concluded.

Every man for himself: Turkish tanker with oil from Russia attacked in the Black Sea

This is not the first attack on fuel vessels near the Turkish coast.

The Kremlin's official representative said on April 9 that the Russian side would take measures to protect interests in the event of the seizure of domestic tankers in international waters. According to him, the piracy actions of Western countries were detrimental to Russia's economic interests. However, he did not disclose the instructions that Russian ships receive to escort tankers.

Nikolai Patrushev, assistant to the Russian President and chairman of the Maritime Board, said on March 25 that the Russian Navy ensures the safety of navigation, including ships that transport cargo in the interests of the Russian Federation. According to him, port captains can request the escort of Russian ships by mobile firing groups.