Georgian Members of Ship Crew Detained in Odessa Are Released

About a month ago a ship was arrested in Odessa. Georgian members of the crew are already free. Georgian citizens were released with joint effort of the Georgian Embassy in Ukraine and Economic Ministry of Georgia.

Deputy economic minister Giorgi Karbelashvili is still in Ukraine. He said according to unofficial information, there was large amount of narcotic substances on the board and it became motive of the ship’s detention.

“We doubt the mafia, which has been acting in the naval administration since 1995, is still active. Those people, who mislead Georgian sailors, shall be punished by all means. We have unofficial information that there was large amount of narcotic substances on the board and our boys also knew it. It is very unpleasant fact but I am sure Georgian sailors were not guilty in it; they were compelled to work on this ship,” said Giorgi Karbelashvili.

Georgian Consul General in Odessa Temur Nishnianidze said the ship went wrong during the raid – the heating and water system turned off and sailors had to live in unbearable conditions.

“Ship was arrested in Odessa on January 18. The sailors, including seven Georgian men, lived in unbearable conditions during 24 days,” Georgia’s Consul General said.

Georgian sailors said they were locked in the cabin several days; then they were compelled to work hard.

“We were in unbearable conditions. We did not have anything - neither electricity, nor water nor food – and we lived without heating in the -16 frost. As a result, I was placed in intensive therapy which I left several days ago,” said sailor Rezo Chkhaidze.

At the moment, the released Georgian sailors are in a hospital in Kiev. They will return home in several days.

The ship sailing under the Panama Flag was arrested on January 18 in Odessa. Reportedly, the ship was arrested because of drug-dealing of the ship’s Turkish owner.

The information about ship crew was spread by Georgian TV-Companies today.

Interpresnews