The captain of the Russian seiner Nord has disappeared in Ukraine.
Vladimir Gorbenko, captain of the Kerch fishing vessel “Nord”, seized by Ukrainian border guards in the spring of 2018 in the Sea of Azov, disappeared in Melitopol.
The captain’s lawyer, Maxim Mogilnitsky, wrote about this on his Facebook page.
“According to relatives, last Saturday around noon Vladimir disappeared from home, and no one has seen him since then. The captain does not communicate with his family and lawyers,” the lawyer wrote.
He recalls that in April 2018, the captain was kidnapped directly from the ship “Nord” in the port of Mariupol by employees of the Security Service of Ukraine.
“Then, however, the lawyers became aware of his whereabouts five hours later. Therefore, as you can see, we have very serious reasons for concern. I hope the captain is alive and well. I drive away disturbing thoughts about possible provocations from law enforcement agencies or representatives of radical organizations. Because this is simply beyond the bounds of reason,” Mogilnitsky wrote.
Gorbenko disappeared in Melitopol, where he lived with relatives. On Saturday he left the house and did not return.
Ukrainian authorities accuse Gorbenko of “violating the order of entry into the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine,” and he faces up to five years in prison. The Obolonsky District Court of Kyiv is scheduled to consider his case on February 1.
Let us recall that two members of the Nord crew were able to escape through Belarus, and seven more were later exchanged for Ukrainian poachers.
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