Russia- piracy

Arctic Sea crew to be flown back to Russia

Article published on the 2009-08-19 Latest update 2009-08-19 14:32 TU

The Russian ship Arctic Sea.
(Photo: Reuters)

The crew of the Russian ship Arctic Sea are being flown home Wednesday evening after they were questioned in Cape Verde. Russian authorities continue to hold the pirates, who took the ship and are said to have threatened to blow it up unless they were paid a ransom.

Russian defence Minister, Anatoly Serdyukov said the ship was comandeered on 24 July in Swedish territorial waters by two Russians, two Latvians and four Estonians.

“Crew members confirm that the hijackers demanded a ransom and threatened to blow the ship if their orders were not obeyed,” Interfax news agency quoted an unnamed Russian defence ministry spokesperson as saying.

The pirates are reported to have abandoned their claim after they were ordered by a Russian warship to stop the Vessel.

The suspects were taken on Monday aboard a Russian anti-submarine ship Ladny, off the coast of Cape Verde archipelago.

So far, the two Baltic states say they have not received any details from Russia regarding the alleged involvement of their nationals.

Furthermore, in Malta, maritime authorities on Tuesday said the cargo ship had “never disappeared” as the media had claimed but that it was continuously tracked between the moment of the hijack and the moment the Russian army recuperated it.