SEVASTOPOL (Sputnik) — Three Russian sailors detained in Libya and suspected of oil smuggling are provided with lawyers in the run-up to a court hearing, Sevastopol human rights commissioner Pavel Butsai told Sputnik on Tuesday.
"The Russian sailors in Libya are provided with an opportunity to talk to our lawyers," Butsai said.
The ombudsman added that the situation with sailors was complicated because of the Greek owner, who did not take necessary steps to free the crew members. The Russian Foreign Ministry is also participating in the resolution of the problem, he noted.
The Temeteron tanker, owned by a Greek company but operating under the flag of Belize, was detained by Libyan forces in June 2016 in Al Zawayah waters, western Libya. The crew consists of three Russians, five Ukrainians and a Greek citizen.
