On January 7, the Russian Ministry of Transport stated that the U.S. seizure of the Russian-flagged oil tanker "Marinella" violated international law. In a statement, the Russian Ministry of Transport noted, “Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the principle of freedom of navigation applies on the high seas, and no state has the right to use force against a vessel lawfully registered under the jurisdiction of another state.” Andrei Klishas, a member of the Federation Council (the upper house of parliament) and a member of the United Russia party, wrote on social media: “After causing the deaths of dozens of people in Venezuela, the United States has now openly engaged in acts of piracy on the high seas.” (CCTV International News)