Russian Embassy in Portugal says verifies information on 'intercepted Russian ship'
The reports saying that Portuguese Navy intercepted a Russian vessel early on Wednesday are going to be verified, Russian Embassy in Portugal told RIA Novosti.
"The Russian Embassy in Portugal is verifying this information. At the moment, neither the Ministry of Defense of Portugal, nor the Ministry of Foreign Affairs can not give any comments or information on the subject," the embassy said.
"Lusa [information] agency reported that this information was provided by its correspondent who accompanied the Minister of Defense Jose Pedro Aguiar-Branco in his visit to Lithuania. The embassy is awaiting clarification from the Portuguese authorities," it added.
According to Lusa, Jose Pedro Aguiar-Branco stated that the Portuguese Navy intercepted a Russian vessel that was in the waters of the exclusive economic zone of the country.
The Portuguese Minister of Defense is currently in Lithuania, with his NATO colleagues at the military base of Siauliai. Portuguese media do not give the name of the ship or the exact point of interception. According to the Portuguese media, it is a survey vessel.