- Sputnik International
Russia
The latest news and stories from Russia. Stay tuned for updates and breaking news on defense, politics, economy and more.

Russian border guards seize Georgian fishing boat in Far East

Subscribe
VLADIVOSTOK, December 11 (RIA Novosti) - Russian coast guards have seized a Georgian fishing vessel off the country's Pacific coast on suspicion of poaching, a coast guard spokesman said Monday.

Coast guards found about 20 tons (44,000 lbs) of sea urchin, a delicacy, aboard the Dzhin (Efreet), registered in Georgia's Black Sea port of Batumi and owned by a Georgian company, according to the schooner's Russian captain.

The ship, which was seized inside the Russian economic exclusion zone 10 miles southwest of Russia's Iturup Island in the Kuril chain, also violated Russian border and fishing regulations, as it had no official permission from border and customs authorities to be there, the spokesman said.

The schooner, with an eight-member Russian crew, was convoyed to a seaport at Shikotan Island for investigation, he added.

An ongoing tit-for-tat row between Moscow and Tbilisi, set off in late September by Georgia's brief detention of four Russian officers on espionage charges, now seems to have taken to the seas.

In late November, Georgian border guards detained a Russian dry cargo ship near Poti, saying it was polluting the environment. It was fined $35,000.

In early December, Georgian authorities detained another Russian dry cargo ship, citing navigation violations in a restricted Black Sea zone, and let it go after it paid a $30,000 fine.

Relations between Georgia and Russia have been strained ever since the Western-leaning government of President Mikheil Saakashvili came to power in 2003. In March of this year, Russia banned Georgian wines and mineral water, dealing a heavy blow to the ex-Soviet republic's fragile economy.

September's arrest of the Russian officers was followed by the expulsion of hundreds of Georgian nationals residing in Russia illegally, the severing of rail and postal links between the two countries, and the closure of several Moscow casinos and restaurants allegedly owned by the Georgian mafia.

Relations between the two ex-Soviet neighbors deteriorated further when Tblisi subsequently threatened to withdraw its support for Russia's WTO bid.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала