Helsinki District Court Rules in Favor of Russian Sailors Accused of Damaging Undersea Cables
Finland has no jurisdiction to prosecute the captain and two assistants from the oil tanker Eagle S of Russia’s shadow fleet, who were accused of damaging undersea cables in the Baltic Sea, this was ruled by the Helsinki District Court, according to Yle. The court issued a ruling on October 3, stating that the Finnish state must cover the sailors’ legal costs, which amount to approximately €195,000.
The prosecutor had demanded that the Eagle S captain, Davit Vadatchkoria, and his assistants, Robert Egizaryan and Santush Kumar Chaurasia, be sentenced to at least 2.5 years of unconditional imprisonment. However, during the trial, the Eagle S shipowner’s lawyer and the defendants emphasized that Finland had no jurisdiction over the case. The district court has now upheld this position.
Investigation into Damaged Undersea Cables Ongoing
On December 25, Finland reported damage to an undersea power cable connecting it with Estonia, located in the Baltic Sea. The Finnish national grid operator, Fingrid, stated that the Estlink 2 submarine power cable, which links Finland and Estonia, had been damaged. Later, it was revealed that two communication cables belonging to the Elisa group and one belonging to CITIC Telecom were also affected.
The cause of the malfunction has not yet been determined, and an investigation is currently underway. The Finnish authorities are working to identify the source of the damage and determine the extent of the impact on the region’s energy supply.
Russian Shadow Fleet Raises Concerns
In addition to the damaged undersea cables, Finland has also been investigating a suspected oil tanker from Russia’s shadow fleet. On December 26, the media reported that Finnish authorities were investigating the case of an oil tanker, which is believed to be part of Russia’s shadow fleet. The ship was reportedly seen in the vicinity of the damaged cables.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb has called on the world to counter the risks posed by vessels from Russia’s shadow fleet. The incident highlights concerns about the potential impact of these ships on global energy supplies and regional security.
Original Article: Damage to cables in Baltic Sea: Finnish court issues unexpected ruling — Rbc