Originally Posted by
ORAC
Read again, it was in the Gulf of Finland, but the Gulf is around 24nm wide and divided between Finnish and Estonian national waters (12nm limit), it is not neutral waters.
It is recognised as an international strait as it leads to Russian waters and shipping is allowed passage under UNCLOS.
However, it is a right of the National authorities to stop and inspect any ship within their waters to ensure they are properly insured and meet international safety standards for both the vessel and crew - particularly in respect to shadow fleet tankers where several have sunk and caused pollution in the Black Sea etc.
Estonia was therefore entirely within its rights to order the tanker to stop for inspection when within Estonian waters - and it was the Russian Su-27 which illegally entered Estonian airspace.
The tanker is now in breach of both Estonian and international law and, if Estonia issues an international arrest warrant, when it leaves port it can be stopped and seized when within Estonian or Finnish waters - or by Denmark when traversing the Danish Straits to enter the North Sea.
I don't need to read in again. I explicitly put "
neutral waters" in bold. This is what your article says.
Gulf of Finland is a bit wider than 24 nautical miles, therefore the question "Were they within their waters?" remains valid. You are right, if they were, but your article suggests otherwise.