On March 23, our Association expert Borys Babin spoke at the Third Black Sea Security Conference of the International Crimea Platform, held in Chisinau.
Professor Babin reminded the delegations of participating countries, international organizations, and the expert community of the systemic and ongoing threat of Russian state terrorism, including the risks posed by the aggressor to Black Sea and Danube transport and energy infrastructure, as well as to environmental and maritime safety.
Using the example of the “grain agreement,” the expert emphasized the aggressor’s inability to negotiate and the lack of effective mechanisms among Black Sea countries for collective response to violations and provocations carried out by Russian structures.
The expert pointed out the insufficient effectiveness of measures taken against the Russian tanker fleet, as well as the aggressor’s shipping from occupied Ukrainian ports, citing, among other things, the example of the consequences of the “Volgoneft” Russian tanker disaster near the Kerch Strait.
Professor Babin cited the results of our Association’s research, which demonstrated the involvement of some European companies in the activities of the Russian shadow fleet, including insurance and crewing support, and also recalled the subversive activities of Russian “classification” and “certification structures.”
On the sidelines of the conference, the expert also shared the ARC’s findings on these and other issues with Manfred Seitz, Director General of the Secretariat of the Danube Commission; with the Deputy Foreign Ministers of Bulgaria and Türkiye, Velizar Shalamanov and Levent Gümrükçü; as well as with Juha Lehtinen, a representative of the Finnish Shipowners Association.
