Ukrainian politician: negotiations under way to stabilize situation in the Sea of Azov
Viktor Medvedchuk, the pro-Russian political organization Ukrainian Choice, said in an interview with the Channel 112 Ukraine that negotiations are being held to stabilize the situation in the Sea of Azov. He stated that “in accordance with the content and rules of agreements, inspection of the ship can and may occur” in an inland sea of two countries.
However, Medvedchuk claims the conflict is caused by “a provocative factor in which one side wants to take revenge on the other one.” Medvedchuk insisted on reaching a compromise and suggested that both countries should not “overstate shipping inspections,” as well as not to create provocations. “Negotiations are being conducted. They could have solved it a month ago, but they didn’t,” he concluded.
On March 25, 2018, the State Border Service of Ukraine detained a ship named Nord sailing under the Russian flag in the Azov Sea, which is registered in the Crimea. There were 10 people on board with Russian passports, issued in Kerch. The vessel violated the departure order from the annexed territory of Ukraine. It was escorted to the port of Berdyansk and later seized by court decision.
The Nord’s captain, Vladimir Gorbenko was taken into custody by the Kherson city court from April 6 to May 31 with the right to post bail in the amount of 35,240 hryvnia ($1,270 USD). Later, the captain’s lawyer said that bail was posted.
Another Russian ship, the Mechanic Pogodin has also been detained by Ukraine in the port of Kherson for three years.