Why?
The European Commission has changed the sanctions for sea vessels to include replicas of historical ships. Based on this, the prefect of the province of Finistere banned the entry of the sailing ship Shtandart to Brest.

We immediately reached out to our friends, sharing the information with as many people as possible.

We are eternally grateful for the immediate response, for the words of support, for the petition to the European Consul, which has already received more than 2000 signatures (support the Shtandart and leave your signature – https://www.change.org/p/help-preserve-the-piece-of-world-s-cultural-heritage-frigate-shtandart)

We filed a lawsuit asking for the cancellation of this decision. Last 15 years Shtandart has been sailing only in Europe. When demanded by french authorities, the ship changed the flag and received registration in the Cook Islands. Despite this, the court’s decision was negative.

We are especially grateful to our friends from the Belem and other sailing ships, who showed their support and proposed to sail towards Brest together. If not all the way to the port, then at least part of the way.

It was very valuable for us and gave us very strong emotions. To be together with other sailing ships at this difficult time, to see their support, to hear the greetings of other crews and the bells and signal horns of ships and small boats. And at the same time we received a lot of messages, letters, comments and posts of support.

Thank you!

We still need your help:

Shtandart is looking for trainees who will be ready for changes in our routes.

We need the help of lawyers to appeal the decisions of the European Commission. We need help in France to write letters and explain the situation to journalists.

Share our petition with as many people as possible – https://www.change.org/p/help-preserve-the-piece-of-world-s-cultural-heritage-frigate-shtandart.

Join us for an information meeting

Tuesday July 16 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

at La Raskette – 5 Rue de la Réunion

(5 minutes from the Festival Entrance “Place des formes”)

Thank you!

Subject: Urgent request to help preserve the piece of world’s cultural heritage, frigate “Shtandart”

Dear President of the European Council Mr. Charles Michel,
Dear Council of the European Union,

I am writing to you with regards to the recent package of amendments (Council regulation (EU) 2024/1745 of 24 June 2024) to the restrictive measures against Russian aggression in Ukraine (Council regulation (EU) 833/2014 of 31 July 2014).

I recognise the importance of these measures and vigorously support them as a way to put pressure on Putin’s regime and to help stop military invasion into Ukraine. Amongst other amendments of this document, however, I was brokenhearted to find the one specifying that the restrictions shall be applied to all maritime vessels “including replicas of historical ships”.

Replicas of historical ships to have sailed European waters under the Russian flag are far from numerous. Even though tall ships like “Kruzenshtern”, “Sedov” and “Mir” were frequenting European harbors in the past, they have not been seen in the EU over the last years, even prior to 24 February 2022 when the prohibition to enter European ports commenced. As a result, this amendment practically turns out to be directed against one specific ship – the frigate “Shtandart”.

I happen to be familiar with this ship and her crew, and I want to use this occasion to bring your attention to several facts that you might not be aware of, in a hope to prevent what I believe to be a tragic misunderstanding.

Unlike the other aforementioned tall ships flying the Russian flag, all of which are in this or that way affiliated with Russian governmental institutions, “Shtandart” is privately-built and privately-owned. She was created by a non-commercial organization dedicated to youth development. Since the beginning, the goal of this project has been education and culture. The ship was built and managed by Vladimir Martus, who has repeatedly defined himself as an opponent to Putin’s regime. Vladimir Martus showed his respect and willingness to collaborate with European governments on multiple occasions, by doing the best of what could possibly be done in the current situation – by not flying the Russian flag upon request of the local authorities, and eventually by changing the ship’s registration and flag to another country and transitioning management to a European company.

The current crew of “Shtandart” is a true mixture of nationalities: not only Russians, but as well Ukrainians, French, Belgians, Dutch and many others largely contribute to this project on a daily basis. I personally know at least one Ukrainian refugee who found shelter and home aboard this ship. The crew showcases how people of different nationalities and backgrounds, sometimes not even speaking the same language, can peacefully coexist and work on a common project, despite and through the terrible events that unravel around them.

In a way, “Shtandart” herself is a refugee. 15 years ago this ship had to flee Saint-Petersburg due to an incident with the local government that tried to take the ship away by force. She has never been back to Russia, since. It was only due to a huge volunteer community that “Shtandart” survived the COVID-19 crisis, and lately she has to rely on goodwill of local authorities to be allowed into any harbors, simply to shelter, refuel, and feed her crew.

This is the ship that you are specifically banning from the European ports. What would be the consequences? Deprived of access to European harbors, “Shtandart” will probably have little to no other choice but to go back to Russia. Will she be forcefully taken by some of Putin’s minions and converted into a private yacht? Unfortunately, I see this as a probable outcome. And I truly hope that this is absolutely not what you are trying to achieve, because such kind of “sanctions” would only motivate the Russian government to continue their unlawful actions.

I am myself a Dutch citizen of Ukrainian origin, and I wish with all my heart that the tragic events unraveling in my country of birth come to an end and that all the guilty in crimes against Ukrainian people are punished. Yet in the pain and anger we need not forget that we are fighting regimes, not cultures. Unlawful actions of the Russian government raise rightful resentment. I regret that some of my fellow countrymen find no better target to direct their resentment at than a historical museum. This could be explained by the huge trauma and pain that many Ukrainians, including me, are going through. But you, the government of the European Union, have to keep your sight clear and be able to tell the actual criminals from their victims.

“Shtandart” is not just a replica of some 1703 ship. She was built following Dutch and British nautic tradition. She is a remarkable cultural heritage, a result of years of hard labor carried out by hundreds of volunteers. Designed mainly as a volunteer project, and not a commercial one, she is already struggling to survive. It would be a huge loss to Europe and the world if she fails in this struggle.

Aside from her indisputable cultural value, “Shtandart” is a bright reminder that Russian people have an alternative to Putin’s false values. This ship showcases that friendship and collaboration with European nations, including Ukrainians, is a real and meaningful way for Russians. She reminds of and showcases what Putin’s regime is trying to take away from the Russian people – the choice.

The goal of the sanctions is to put political and economical pressure on the Russian government and on the individuals responsible for the numerous military crimes happening in Ukraine, as well as the crimes against human rights happening in Russia. The list of sanctions includes targeted restrictive measures against powerful Russian individuals and effective economical measures such as restrictions on oil trade. And side by side with those thoughtful measures and notorious personalities – restrictions against a replica, a museum?.. What good can we realistically achieve by this?

I hereby ask you to reconsider this amendment, and to help preserve this precious piece of the world’s cultural heritage. I ask you to show wisdom and foresight in telling Europe’s friends from Europe’s enemies. Should you not be able to support “Shtandart” as much as she deserves to be supported, then at least please do not push her to cease existing. Please do what is only meaningful, make “Shtandart” an exemption from sanctions and grant her free access to European ports.

I am happy to provide my assistance and further collaborate with you on this matter.

Please, sign the petition on change.org

On 24th June 2024 EU Sanctions was amended by a line which includes replica ships into the list of ships under sanctions.

The following message was received on board on the 7th of July, on the way from La Rochelle to Brest Maritime Festival:  Prefet of Finistere made a statement, which ban SHTANDART to come to ports.

Today we need that a voice of people who understand the true mission of Shtandart will be heard – by media, by politicians, by Authorities.  The Mission is to develop friendship between people of all nations, to stop hatred on our level – on the level of ordinary people. 

For the Shtandart and her crew – the ship stays at sea with no port to come – this is a question of life and death.

We need your help! Please, sign a petition on change.org

You can show your support with a mail to the prefecture du Finistere and/or to the secrétariat général de la mer (addresses below).

Please forward this message to your contacts.

Prefecture du Finistere
42 boulevard Dupleix
29320 Quimper Cedex
prefecture@finistere.gouv.fr

Secretariat General de la mer
20 avenue de Segue
75007 Paris
sgmer@pm.gouv.fr

Share our petition with as many people as possible – https://www.change.org/p/help-preserve-the-piece-of-world-s-cultural-heritage-frigate-shtandart.

Join us for an information meeting

Tuesday July 16 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

at La Raskette – 5 Rue de la Réunion

(Near the “Place desformes” entrance, see reverse)

Thank you!

Links:

Latest news and updates – Shtandart and the Festival in Brest. What’s happening

Open letter to the European Council

Video – Frigate Shtandart is coming to Brest

We plan to stay here until the 4th of July and go out to sea almost every day! And when we are not at sea, our frigate traditionally operates as a museum and welcomes visitors on board.

And from June 20 to 23, the first maritime festival will take place in La Rochelle, and we are very happy that we will also participate in this significant event!

The schedule of our sea voyages can be found here: https://shtandart.eu/services/sail-with-us/

On May 11 at 10.00 we will take part in the crew parade, and on May 12 in the parade of sails, – on the same day we are waiting on board for the participants of our next sea crossing!
There are still places available and you can book them here: shtandart.eu/services/sail-with-us/

Immediately after arrival, the ship opened to visitors as a museum, and the next day we went to sea for one day with the maritime college.

On April 30 – May 1, we carry out a training program at sea with hearing-impaired, visually impaired and oral-impaired adolescents from SESSAD Tremä.

And on May 2 we set off again on a new week-long trip. Before leaving La Rochelle we had to furl all the sails: the first part of the journey, judging by the forecast, we will move against a headwind.

And then we still plan to use our sails as much as possible . The next crew change is scheduled for Fecamp on May 8th

In Valencia, our crew disembarked to explore the vibrant city, while new trainees eagerly stepped aboard, ready to join us on our journey to the exotic lands of Morocco!