Russian-flagged bulker not detained in Turkey, undergoing phyto-sanitary control - Russian Foreign Ministry

MOSCOW. July 6 (Interfax) - The Zhibek Zholy bulker has not been detained in Turkey; instead, the Turkish authorities are performing standard checks, Deputy Director of the Russian Foreign Ministry's Information and Press Department Alexei Zaitsev said.

"We have paid attention to the reports of certain media outlets regarding the alleged detention of the Zhibek Zholy bulker flying the Russian flag in a Turkish port. In this regard, we would like to report the following: according to the Russian embassy to Turkey, the ship is anchored on the roadstead and is undergoing standard checks, including phyto-sanitary control," Zaitsev said at a press briefing on Wednesday.

"Once the checks are over, the Turkish authorities will either allow or prohibit the ship from entering the port. Any detention or arrest of the bulker is out of the question," he said.

There have been reports of Turkey's detention of the Zhibek Zholy bulker allegedly carrying Ukrainian grain.