ÐÎÑÑÈÉÑÊÈÉ ÏÐÎÔÅÑÑÈÎÍÀËÜÍÛÉ ÑÎÞÇ ÌÎÐßÊÎÂ
SEAFARERS' UNION OF RUSSIA
A NON-UNIONIZED SEAFARER
IS AN UNPROTECTED SEAFARER
Back
Appeal of Seafarers’ Union of Russia to Nigerian authorities
Seafarers’ Union of Russia has sent an appeal to the government of Lagos and to the Federal High Court of Nigeria. SUR requested for release of Russian seafarers from m/v “Myre Seadiver”:
“Dear Sirs,
We are the Seafarers’ Union of Russia, a trade union affiliated with the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF).
As you know, since October 201215 crewmembers of m/v “MyreSeadiver” have been kept in prison in Lagos (Nigeria), on charges of illegal possession of weapons and illegal entry into Nigeria. The m/v “MyreSeadiver” is a special-purpose tugboat tasked to protect vessels working in the Gulf of Guinea against piracy. As everybody knows, pirate activity in this region has become very high. The crew of the m/v “MyreSeadiver” includes seven specialists working in a private Russian security agency and eight Russian seafarers from St.Petersburg. Last October, when the vessel entered the port of Lagos, the local authorities arrested it and its crew, allegedly for arms trafficking. The weapons on board were duly declared, fully in accordance with the international maritime rules yet the local authorities chose to arrest the people and the tug.
In the end of the last year, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation issued an official statement saying that the Parties agreed to release the arrested seafarers by the end of December, 2012. Unfortunately, the Nigerian side did not fulfill this agreement. On 15 January 2013, Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia Mr. M.Bogdanov met with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Moscow, Mr. Assam Ekanem Assam. Mr. Assam assured that the investigation and court actions would be finalized before the end of the month, and expressed a hope that the Russian citizens would return home shortly after.
Nevertheless, on 28 January 2013, the Magistrate Court of the State of Lagos on another occasion prolonged the investigation for two months. No official charge was made. However, processing of the application by the Embassy of Russia in Nigeria for their release on bail (until the trial) was postponed till 14 February. Yet on 14 February, the Magistrate Court of the State of Lagos decided to transfer further proceedings to a Federal Court of higher level. The processing of the application by the Embassy was, likewise, forwarded to the higher level court, and the latter is expected to make a decision on 19 February.
While the Nigerian justice keeps postponing the case, the arrested seafarers are kept in prison in absolutely inhuman conditions. They do not have normal drinking water or suitable food, and the air temperature in the cell is over 30 degrees C, with air humidity of 90%. Moreover, it is known that at least one of the prisoners has malaria but receives no medical treatment.
The Seafarers’ Union of Russia hereby strongly requests the Nigerian authorities to look into the case, lift all charges against the Russian citizens and release them without any further delay. Also, we call for arranging normal conditions for them until they are released.
Sincerely yours,
Yury Sukhorukov
President, Seafarers’ Union of Russia
(affiliated with the ITF)"
P.S.: Yesterday 15 Russian seafarers appeared in the court of Lagos where they have been charged with illegal possession of weapons and ammunition. None of “Myre Seadiver” crew pleaded guilty. The next hearing of the case will come on February 25, 2013.
SUR expresses sympathy to the arrested members of m/v “Myre Seadiver” and calls to solidarity of all seafarers and fraternal trade unions affiliated with ITF by sending letters to the addresses below:
Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Lagos State Government
Federal High Court of Nigeria
Embassy of Russia in Nigeria
Seafarers’ Union of Russia
Up