MOSCOW, October 14 (RIA Novosti) - New charges could be filed in the case of the Arctic Sea dry cargo ship's seizure, an investigator said in a Moscow court on Wednesday.
The Finnish-owned, Maltese-flagged ship manned by a Russian crew and listed as carrying lumber from Russia to Algeria, was reportedly boarded by a group of eight men on July 24. Officials later said it had disappeared in the Atlantic. It was freed off Cape Verde on August 16 by a Russian warship.
The Basmanny Court arraigned eight men on piracy and kidnapping charges over the case on August 21. On Wednesday, investigators requested that the court remand in custody two of them - an Estonian national, Yevgeny Mironov, and a Russian citizen, Dmitry Bartnev.
"New charges are expected to be filed in the case," the investigator said in court, without giving further details.
The investigator said custody should be extended for three months and 29 days pending further interrogations and expert examinations. The judge granted the request, and extended the investigation period until February 18.
On Thursday and Friday the court will hear similar requests concerning five other suspects.
Bartnev's lawyer, Konstantin Baranovsky, said his defendant has accused the captain of the Ladny warship of abduction and illegal detention, and requested that the court launch a criminal case against him.
He said other suspects in the case could also submit similar requests.
The court has rejected Bartenev's appeal against the decision to hear the case in a Russian court instead of Malta or Sweden, which have launched their own criminal cases into the incident. The appeal was rejected on the grounds that the Russian constitution does not permit the trial of Russian nationals in foreign courts.
The vessel has been impounded on a court order, and is currently anchored in the open sea to the east of Gibraltar.
