US to Transfer Seized Tanker Captain from UK Waters ‘Imminently’, Court Hears

London, UK — The United States is preparing to remove the captain of a Russian‑flagged oil tanker from UK waters “imminently”, a Scottish court was told on Tuesday — sparking a fierce legal battle over the legality of his detention and the fundamental rights of those aboard the seized vessel. �

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At the centre of the controversy is Captain Avtandil Kalandadze, a Georgian national who has been held aboard the oil tanker Marinera (formerly known as Bella 1) in the Moray Firth off Scotland since early January, after the United States military intercepted the vessel in the North Atlantic under sanctions enforcement operations. �

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Legal Challenge Launched in Scotland

Lawyers acting for Kalandadze’s wife, Natia Dzadzama, this week lodged papers in the Court of Session in Edinburgh seeking a judicial review of what they describe as the “unlawful detention” of her husband and the crew. �

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At the hearing, legal representatives argued that Kalandadze’s removal from UK jurisdiction to US custody — without British court approval — would violate the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and deny him access to a fair legal process. �

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Solicitor Aamer Anwar, acting on behalf of Dzadzama, said the application was intended to protect the captain’s fundamental rights and ensure that the US government follows established extradition protocols, rather than unilaterally seizing him from British waters. �

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“This is not simply about where he goes next,” Anwar told the court, “but about ensuring that the rule of law applies and that his rights under the European Convention are upheld.” �

Express & Star

Background: Seizure and Sanctions Enforcement

The tanker at the heart of the dispute, Marinera, was captured by US Naval forces in early January as part of a broader effort to enforce American sanctions targeting oil shipments linked to Russia, Venezuela, and Iran. �

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Initially planned for transfer directly to the United States for prosecution, the vessel instead diverted to UK waters near the Scottish coast due to fuel shortages and tactical considerations, according to officials familiar with the operation. �

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UK authorities, including the Ministry of Defence (MoD), confirmed that British military assets — such as the Royal Navy tanker RFA Tideforce and Royal Air Force surveillance aircraft — supported elements of the operation, though UK forces did not physically board the tanker during its capture. �

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The tanker’s presence off the coast of Burghead in the Moray Firth has been a point of political and logistical friction, particularly between the UK government and Scottish officials, who say they were not fully informed in advance of the operation. �

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Scottish First Minister John Swinney has publicly criticised the communication between London and Holyrood over the incident, saying Scotland’s government expected to be consulted on significant security decisions affecting its waters. �

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Human Rights and Extradition Questions

The legal argument before the Scottish court focuses heavily on the interpretation of the ECHR, specifically the rights to liberty and security and to a fair legal process. Lawyers for Kalandadze maintain that directly transferring him to US control — without proper extradition proceedings — would breach these core protections. �

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They argue that the US should formally request extradition via the UK legal system, giving the captain and his legal team an opportunity to challenge any move on legal grounds, rather than facing unilateral action aboard the vessel. �

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An emergency order has been sought to prevent any imminent removal of the captain and crew from the court’s jurisdiction, while preparations are made for a full judicial review hearing in the coming days. �

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International Legal Norms Under Scrutiny

The case raises complex questions about the interplay between sanctions enforcement, maritime law, sovereign jurisdiction, and human rights protections. International legal experts say the dispute touches on several areas of legal contention:

Sanctions law vs. sovereign rights: While the US has broad sanctions powers, the legitimacy of enforcing those powers on the high seas and then detaining individuals in foreign territorial waters is legally contested.

Extradition procedure: Typically, a nation must go through established extradition treaties and legal channels before removing a foreign national for prosecution abroad; bypassing these norms could set a concerning precedent.

Human Rights Convention protections: Detention without access to judicial review can be seen as contrary to ECHR obligations, which the UK has incorporated into domestic law.

Legal commentators suggest that the outcome could have significant ramifications for how countries balance sanctions enforcement with international legal obligations — particularly when operations overlap multiple jurisdictions.

“If the court finds that the authorities must respect extradition processes and human rights standards, it may limit how such maritime interdictions are handled in the future,” said one maritime legal analyst. (Analysis based on context.)

Political Tensions and Reactions

The episode has also fuelled geopolitical tension. Moscow has condemned the seizure of what it describes as a civilian vessel and demanded the safe repatriation of its citizens, warning of potential diplomatic consequences. Although much of the crew’s nationality mix (including Russians and Ukrainians) has complicated the narrative, the focus remains on Kalandadze’s legal fate. �

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Meanwhile, UK political figures are under pressure to clarify their role in the operation and reassure the public that national sovereignty and legal norms are being upheld. Scottish officials, in particular, feel sidelined and publicly assert that they were kept in the dark about critical decisions involving their waters. �

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What Happens Next

As proceedings continue in Edinburgh, the court must decide whether to grant the judicial review and issue an order preventing imminent removal of the captain. If successful, the case will move into a full hearing where both legal arguments — UK human rights obligations versus US enforcement objectives — will be weighed in detail. �

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Until then, the fate of Captain Avtandil Kalandadze — and perhaps international maritime legal norms — hangs in the balance.