The crew of the Bella 1 tanker painted a Russian flag to the US Coast Guard

The crew of the tanker Bella 1, pursued by the US Coast Guard, defended themselves with the flag of Russia. It is reported by The New York Times newspaper with reference to American officials.

The crew of an oil tanker trying to get away from the Americans in the Atlantic Ocean painted a Russian flag on the side of the vessel, clearly trying to get Russia's protection, two American officials said on Tuesday. This is the latest twist in a strange odyssey that began on December 21, when the US Coast Guard tried to intercept the Bella 1 ship in the Caribbean Sea, heading to Venezuela for oil," the publication says.

According to American officials, after the Bella 1 crew members painted the Russian flag on the tanker, they declare their Russian status.

Sources also reported that the Coast Guard tried to intercept Bella 1 in the Caribbean Sea after it found out that the vessel was not raising a valid national flag. In such cases, it is subject to verification under international law. However, the tanker did not obey and continued sailing, and since then it has been pursued.

Bella 1 is part of the so-called "shadow fleet" of tankers that carry oil from Russia, Iran and Venezuela is in violation of sanctions imposed by the United States and other countries. Most of the Bella 1 crew members, according to one of the sources, are citizens of Russia, India and Ukraine. The tanker has been under US sanctions since last year for transporting Iranian oil.