The Moscow City Court granted a petition to a defendant in the pirate hijacking case of the Arctic Sea vessel to hear his case in a special proceeding, without examining evidence, the suspect's lawyer said.
The Arctic Sea disappeared in the Atlantic on July 24 while carrying a $2 million shipment of timber from Finland to Algeria and was intercepted by the Russian Navy off West Africa on August 17, when eight alleged hijackers were arrested.
"My client fully admitted his guilt and asked the court to consider his case in a special proceeding, without examining evidence or questioning witnesses, and move directly to the hearing, which will be held at the Moscow City Court on June 11," Sergei Goltyayev, Dmitry Savins' lawyer, said.
Russian law stipulates special proceedings for hearing cases if a suspect confesses and actively cooperates with the investigation. In this case, the suspect receives a sentence lower than stipulated by the Russian Criminal Code.
Earlier, another hijacker, Andrei Lunev, also admitted to being guilty and was sentenced to 5 years in prison instead of the normal 15 years stipulated by the Russian Criminal Code. The remaining six suspects insist on their innocence and will remain in custody until at least August 18. Investigations are still ongoing.
The ship was anchored to the east of Gibraltar for weeks after its release and guarded by two Russian vessels because Algeria, the vessel's original destination, denied the vessel port entry. It was then towed to Malta.
The ship's disappearance, which triggered a major international search effort, raised suspicions about it carrying a "secret cargo" of drugs or weapons. Russian authorities have denied the rumors, saying the vessel was hijacked by criminals who demanded a ransom.
Russia's special investigations committee announced last year that all 14 crewmembers of the Arctic Sea had been formally recognized as victims of a pirate attack.
MOSCOW, May 28 (RIA Novosti)
