The recovered cargo ship Arctic Sea Photo Credit: Solchart Group
RIGA — The Latvian Embassy in Moscow received official confirmation today from the Russian Prosecutor’s Office that one citizen and one non-citizen of Latvia are among those arrested in connection with the hijacking of the Arctic Sea freighter.
In a brief press statement Latvia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it forwarded the information to the country’s relevant law enforcement institutions who would take action within the limits of their authority.
The Foreign Ministry, who did not disclose the names of the persons concerned, said it would not interfere with the inquiry process into the suspected hijacking and declined to provide any further details on the case. The ministry has remained tight lipped since the news came out.
“The Foreign Ministry, in compliance with the inviolability of private life, and in order not to interfere with the inquiry process, refrains from disclosing more detailed information regarding the inquiry in the case of the Arctic Sea freighter and the names of the individuals concerned,” the statement read.
It emerged on Aug. 18 that Latvian and Estonian nationals were among eight people detained by Russian authorities, after the ship’s crew were rescued on Aug. 17 in waters off Cape Verde in the Atlantic Ocean.
Both the crew and the suspected hijackers were flown into Moscow on Aug. 20 aboard a Russian Air Force Ilyushin-76 transport aircraft for further questioning.
They had earlier been questioned aboard a Russian ship off Africa’s coast.
Footage from Russian State Television shows the suspected hijackers, which include four Estonians, two Latvians and two Russians, being lead, handcuffed by members of uniformed security forces with their faces concealed from the cameras.
The mysterious disappearance of the Finnish-owned cargo ship sparked a major international investigation.
The Arctic Sea was attacked in Swedish waters on July 24, when it was reportedly boarded by up to 10 armed men who threatened crew with guns and forced them to sail south.
Russian Defense Ministry officials said the hijackers threatened to blow up the ship if a ransom demand was not met.
Fierce speculation has raged since the 4,000-ton ship apparently vanished after setting sail from Finland on July 23, bound for Algeria with a cargo of timber worth €1.2 million.
The rumors have included allegations of piracy, mafia involvement, smuggling, and a commercial dispute.
It also emerged maritime authorities knew the ship’s precise whereabouts several days before its official recapture by Russian authorities, but had kept the information secret so as not to jeopardize the safety of those on board.
The ship’s 15 Russian crew members were unharmed in the incident.
