MOSCOW, July 10 (RIA Novosti) - A court in Nigeria postponed until October 8 a trial over remaining seven out of 15 Russian sailors, who had been arrested near the West African country’s coast in October 2012 on arms smuggling charges.
In mid-June, eight of the arrested Russian sailors were acquitted by a Nigerian court and already returned back to Russia. All 15 sailors were the crew of the MV Myre Seadiver vessel owned by Moscow-based security firm Moran Security Group.
On Tuesday, a spokesman for Moran Security Group said that Nigeria decided to postpone the hearings for a three-month period as the court “needed extra time to study case materials.”
“It is unclear how the situation will develop further as the Nigerian side took a pause,” he added.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement late on Tuesday that Moscow was “deeply disappointed” with the decision of the Nigerian court.
“We proceed from the assumption that after the detailed study of the case materials the Nigerian justice will finally acquit all Russian sailors,” the statement from the ministry said.
Nigerian authorities detained the Myre Seadiver ship with the Russian crew in the port of Lagos on October 19 last year after finding weapons, including 14 Kalashnikov AK-47 assault rifles and some 8,000 rounds of ammunition, on board.
Moran Security said the arsenal was designed to ensure protection against pirates, who often attack ships along the Nigerian coast.
The Myre Seadiver is an auxiliary vessel used to support maritime oil extraction and transport operations. The owner earlier said the vessel had been authorized to make a port call in Lagos three weeks before the arrival and had all necessary documents declaring the presence of weapons on board.
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