Russian Court to Maintain Custody of Pirates of the Arctic Sea

Moscow's Basmanny Court said it will continue custody of the people involved with the seizure of the Arctic Sea seizure until at least May 18, 2010.

Eight people are on trial in this case and have been charged with the abduction of people and piracy committed by an organized group. The Russian court authorized the arrest of eight suspects, which include two Russian citizens, an Estonian, a Latvian and three other people on August 21st. They have been held in Moscow’s Lefortovo detention since being arrested on August 20, 2009.

The Malta-flagged Arctic Sea had a crew of 15 and was transporting lumber from Finland to Algeria with an estimated time of arrival of August 4th. The ship was seized in Swedish waters and radio contact was lost with the ship on July 28.

The “LADNY” a Russian anti-submarine ship freed the cargo ship’s crew off Cape Verde on August 17. Eleven crewmen and eight hijackers were brought to Moscow by the Russian Air Force on August 20. The ship's captain and three crewmen remained onboard to properly had it over to a new crew.

"On the strength of the gathered evidence, seven captors have been charged with complicity in the commission of the crimes covered by Article 227, Part 3 and Article 126 (a), Part 3 (piracy and kidnapping committed with the use violence and arms by organized group). The eighth suspect has been charged with masterminding the above crimes," a Russian spokesperson said.