Moscow said yesterday two Russian crew members of a tanker seized earlier this month by the United States in the North Atlantic had been released and were on their way home.

US authorities took over the Russian-flagged tanker earlier this month, alleging it was part of a shadow fleet carrying oil from countries such as Venezuela, Russia and Iran in violation of US sanctions.

The United States said publicly that the Marinera’s crew could be prosecuted. Russia said that would be “categorically unacceptable” and accused Washington of stoking tensions and threatening international shipping.

“Two Russian sailors have been released and are on their way home to Russia,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told the state-run RIA Novosti news agency yesterday.

The fate of the rest of the crew was unclear.

Russia announced earlier this month that the United States had decided to release the two Russian crew members, but last week its Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the decision had not yet been implemented.

The United States seized the tanker, which was being escorted by the Russian navy, after chasing it from near the Venezuelan coast.

It was re-flagged and re-named to bring it under Russian jurisdiction in a bid to discourage the United States from trying to take it as part of its campaign against Venezuela.