The Russian Federation’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that a group of Russian sailors detained at the port of Maputo in Mozambique are being held amid a dispute over finances and property. This update was reported by RIA Novosti.
The ministry confirmed that the fishing vessel carried five crew members, with two of them Russian, including the captain. Officials say that once the captain conveyed the crew’s wish to return home, the Russian Embassy promptly alerted local authorities to the situation and began pursuing a resolution through official channels.
Officials also noted that despite ongoing efforts, the matter of bringing the seafarers back to Russia remains unresolved at this stage.
According to the ministry, the sailors have found themselves effectively trapped in the midst of a financial and ownership dispute between the vessel’s owner and a local agency. The State Department highlighted this framing, signaling a broader diplomatic dimension to the incident.
Separately, the Second Western District Military Court recently issued a verdict concerning Northern Fleet serviceman Yegor Tyukin, who faced charges described as treason. Tyukin was stripped of his military rank as part of the rulings. Details of the alleged activities were not disclosed, and the trial was conducted behind closed doors due to the involvement of classified materials.
In a separate reference, Ukraine has also faced accusations related to a sailor who allegedly did not return from service on a submarine, an episode described in terms of betrayal in earlier reporting.