War in Ukraine: the Shtandart, the Russian frigate hosted during Stopover in Sète, banned from staying in Spain

La frégate russe ne participera pas à Escala a Castellón, après Escale à Sète. Midi Libre – DORIAN CAYUELA

La frégate russe ne participera pas à Escala a Castellón, en Espagne, après Escale à Sète.

Escale à Sète has barely finished when Escale a Castellón, the next gathering of tall ships, already begins. Many ships present on the unique island set sail this Monday for the maritime event which opens on April 5 in the Spanish port of Castellón de la Plana. In this case the Goleta Äran, the Nao Victoria, the Pascal Flores, the Galeón, the Santa Maria Manuela, the Morgenster and La Grace. But not the Shtandart.

Undesirable for Escala a Castellón

If the Russian frigate, built according to the plans of the flagship of the fleet of Tsar Peter I, is not on the trip, it is because it is organization ultimately opposed his participation. A decision taken by the Spanish municipality under pressure from the Ukrainian population living there, according to the local media Castellón Información.

Since the start of the war in Ukraine, the 35-meter sailboat, which found refuge in the port of La Rochelle, has been at the heart of a geopolitical battle. For the #NoShandartInEurope collective, some of whose activists were present in Sète, the reception of the three-masted vessel contravenes the European regulations put in place following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In 2022, the prefect of Hérault took the decision to prohibit the arrival of the boat for Stopover in Sète, forcing the crew to head towards Port-de-Bouc.

We must stop demonizing this boat which has participated in all maritime festivals for twenty years

But his captain, the eccentric Vladimir Martus, has presented himself since the start of the conflict as a dissident to Vladimir Putin. And obtained authorization to participate in several gatherings of old rigging. Like in Sète, where the Shtandart was one of the star attractions of the gathering. An invitation assumed by the director of the event, Wolfgang Idiri. "We must stop demonizing this boat which has participated in all maritime festivals for twenty years. We asked Vladimir Martus not to fly the Russian flag out of respect for the Ukrainian people, I believe he respected this commitment. We have been around this sailboat and its crew for years, we are not going to turn our backs on it even though it has clearly marked its opposition to the regime of Vladimir Putin."