FM is ‘firm supporter’ of sanctions applied to Russia,published at 13:05 GMT
13:05 GMT
Phil Sim
Scotland political correspondent
The final question of the day saw the first minister called onto
the international stage, with the story of the Russian-flagged tanker seized by
the US in waters between Scotland and Iceland.
The Greens have described the move as “piracy” and
Labour MSP Mercedes Villalba raised it in the context of US moves in Venezuela.
But the first minister was quite firm that these topics should not
be mixed up. While the tanker was originally bound for the South American
country, there is a broader issue of efforts to crack down on sanctions-busting
on oil.
And Swinney was clear that he is a “firm supporter” of
sanctions applied to Russia, particularly in the context of the war in Ukraine.
His government was not made aware of how Wick airport was
involved, or whether the planes which landed there took part in the operation,
simply noting that the site is regularly used for refuelling.
But by the sounds of things, he wouldn’t have had any problem with
it if he had been given advance notice of the government-owned facility being
involved in any operation.