In a significant development on Friday, a Finnish court dropped all charges against the crew of an oil tanker suspected of severing undersea communication and power cables in the Baltic Sea last year. The court concluded that Finland lacked the legal authority, or jurisdiction, to prosecute the sailors in this particular case.
The Helsinki district court judge stated that the damage resulted from negligence related to the ship’s anchor. This finding places the incident under the purview of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Consequently, for any criminal proceedings to advance, they would need to be initiated either in the Cook Islands, where the ship “Eagle S” is registered, or in the home countries of the crew members, who hail from Georgia and India.
There has been no immediate comment from Finnish authorities regarding the court’s decision.
Last August, Finnish officials had pressed charges against the crew of a tanker believed to be part of Russia’s “shadow fleet.” This clandestine network of vessels is known for secretly transporting crude oil, allowing Russia to bypass Western sanctions. These “shadow” ships are also widely suspected of being involved in acts of sabotage targeting European infrastructure.
The “Eagle S” was impounded by Finnish authorities last year, who alleged that its anchor had been dragged for over 50 miles across the seabed. This dragging reportedly severed five critical submarine cables, including a vital power line connecting Estonia and Finland. While initial disruption was minimal, prosecutors estimated the cost of repairs at over 60 million euros, or more than $70 million.
Both Finnish and Estonian officials later asserted that the cable damage was likely an act of sabotage. Following the incident, NATO and the European Union praised Finland’s efforts in combating actions designed to destabilize or provoke nations supporting Ukraine.
Although the “Eagle S” itself was released and escorted from Finnish waters in March, its captain and first officer, both Georgian nationals, along with the Indian second officer, were initially prevented from leaving the country. They faced serious charges of “aggravated criminal mischief and aggravated interference with communications.”
Throughout the legal proceedings, the crew consistently denied the accusations. Their defense maintained from the outset that any cable damage occurred beyond Finland’s territorial waters.
According to Herman Ljungberg, a lawyer representing the shipping company, the sailors were allowed to return to their home countries last month, as the court found no further grounds to restrict their departure from Finland.
The incident with the “Eagle S” comes amidst heightened concerns across Europe. Just this week, European leaders convened in Denmark to strategize on defense, specifically addressing hybrid warfare and sabotage. This follows recent events where unidentified drones caused temporary shutdowns at airports in Denmark, Norway, and most recently, Munich.
While no government has publicly assigned blame for these drone incursions, numerous European nations remain vigilant against potential Russian provocations. Moscow, for its part, has consistently denied any involvement.
Adding to the regional tensions, French authorities recently intercepted an oil tanker traveling from Russia to India, identifying it as another vessel belonging to Moscow’s shadow fleet. The captain, a Chinese national, was arrested and subsequently charged on Thursday with defying orders. His case is scheduled for February.
French Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron highlighted the operation as a success, stating it yielded “concrete results” in efforts to curtail the Kremlin’s revenue from its shadow fleet, which he claims finances up to 40 percent of Russia’s war efforts in Ukraine.
During the Danish summit with European leaders, Macron elaborated on the strategy: “You kill the business model by detaining for days or weeks these vessels, forcing them to organize themselves differently.”
The “Eagle S” incident marks the third time undersea cables in the Baltic Sea have been cut in under two years. In 2023, a Chinese-flagged vessel, the “Newnew Polar Bear,” was responsible for severing a gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia with its anchor. A year later, the “Yi Peng 3,” another Chinese-flagged tanker, cut two fiber-optic cables.
Finland’s President, Alexander Stubb, commented on the recurring pattern at the time, stating: “If three similar incidents happen within a year, it can’t be a coincidence or accident,” and called for NATO’s support.
Additional reporting for this story was provided by Aurelien Breeden from Paris.