The Foreign Ministry Spokesperson from The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Maria Zakharova gave an update on the Russian seamen who are held hostage by Pirates.
Speaking at the Mashuk North Caucasus Youth Forum, Pyatigorsk on August 22, 2019, she said; The Foreign Ministry continues to closely monitor the situation with the Marmalaita cargo vessel that was subjected to an armed attack, presumably by Nigerian pirates on August 15 some 40 km away from the Cameroon port of Douala. As a result of the attack, eight people were abducted, including three citizens of the Russian Federation: Captain Vladimir Slepchenko, chief mate Nikolai Ruzhitsky and mechanic Oleg Druzhinin.
According to our information, the prisoners were brought to Nigerian territory. The pirates also seized the pay box and personal belongings of the seamen and damaged communication and navigation devices. According to an update, the vessel belongs to the German company MarConsult Schiffahrt.
The recruitment agency Marlow Navigation Russia reported that the pirates contacted representatives of the vessel owner and expressed their willingness to provide the hostages with food and medication.
The Russian Embassy in Yaounde is in close contact with the competent agencies of Cameroon and the Interregional Coordination Centre for Maritime Security in the Gulf of Guinea, as well as with the vessel owner’s company, which established a special group seeking the release of the Russian citizens as soon as possible.”
Image: Sinisa Aljinovic
MaritimeSafetyandSecurity.com 