On June 3, the investigation against Ukrainian sailors captured in November 2018 near annexed Crimea was restored, as lawyer Mykola Polozov reported on Facebook.
“The investigators inform the POWs and their lawyers about expertise appointed and conducted earlier. Today, investigation will be conducted against Mykhaylo Vlasyuk and Yuriy Budzyko,” the message reads.
Polozov reminded that Russia authorities have 22 days to provide a report on the release of Ukrainian ships and 24 sailors to the UN International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea.
As it was reported, on May 25, the International Maritime Tribunal demanded that Russia immediately release the Ukrainian sailors and ships and ensure their return to Ukraine. Ukraine is counting on Russia’s immediate implementation of the decision.
Earlier, on November 25, 2018, Russian border guards seized the Ukrainian Yany Kapu raid tug and small armored artillery boats Berdyansk and Nikopol of the Naval Forces of Ukraine in the Kerch Strait area, using weapons.
As a result of the incident, 24 Ukrainian sailors were detained and arrested. They were transported from Crimea to the Moscow Lefortovo detention facility. In addition, three Ukrainian sailors wounded during the shelling by the Russians were transferred to the prison hospital.
