Putin says FSB approval will be needed for foreign vessels entering Russian ports

Foreign vessels will require the approval of Russia’s FSB security service to access the country’s ports, according to a decree signed by President Vladimir Putin.

The decree said that permission from port authorities for foreign ships to enter would need to be agreed with the FSB, which is the main successor organisation to the Soviet-era KGB. The new measures came into force immediately after the decree was published on Monday.

Previously, entry rules were set by the transport ministry and special procedures were in place at ports adjacent to naval bases, state news agency TASS said.

The wording of the new decree made clear it would apply to all ports. It did not specify any reason for the change.

Russian ships and vessels of the “shadow fleet” that Moscow uses to circumvent sanctions are closely scrutinised by the West. The European Union last week lowered a price cap that seeks to squeeze Russian oil revenues, and President Donald Trump threatened additional sanctions on Russia and buyers of its exports unless it agrees to end the Ukraine war.

Source:  Reuters