EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and her followers have shown no scruples pushing for the seizure of Russian assets, in spite of serious expert warnings that this would trigger international legal complications and backfire against Europe. The “Eventin” affair in Germany shows that seizures could also fail to be approved by European courts.
In January of this year, the “Eventin” tanker, carrying 99,000 tons of oil, drifted onto the coast of the island of Rügen after suffering engine failure. Two months later, customs
seized the ship and its cargo. The reason: the tanker and the Russian oil on board were subject to EU sanctions. Since then, customs and the owner, the Marshall Islands-based Laliya Shipping Cooperation, have been arguing about whether the seizure was lawful.
