India arrests MV Seaman Guard Ohio security personnel - Ukrainian ministry
KYIV. Oct 18 (Interfax) - The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry confirmed on Friday the arrest of security personnel of MV Seaman Guard Ohio, which was detained in India for verification of the legality of the weapons it carried.
"The crewmembers, among them Ukrainian citizens - the captain and the chief engineer, remain aboard the ship. Yet the security personnel, including one citizen of Ukraine, have been placed under arrest," Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Yevhen Perebiynis told Interfax, referring to information from the Ukrainian Embassy in India.
He said that a mission of diplomats from the countries, which had citizens among the MV Seaman Guard Ohio crew, would start on Friday to clarify the circumstances.
A number of foreign media outlets and websites reported India's arrest of 35 crewmembers of MV Seaman Guard Ohio on the counts of illegal transportation of armaments. They said the 35 sailors would soon face judicial proceedings.
The Indian Coast Guard detained MV Seaman Guard Ohio in the Gulf of Mannar between the coasts of India and Sri Lanka in the early morning hours on October 12 to verify information about the presence of armaments onboard the ship and the availability of weapon transportation permits.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry reported soon after the detention that three Ukrainian citizens - the captain, the chief engineer and a security guard - were amongst the crewmembers. The ministry refuted media reports alleging that MV Seaman Guard Ohio was carrying weapons. It said the crew had nothing but service-issue weapons it needed for security purposes.
