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Russian sailors detained in Cape Verde not charged yet - diplomat

"At the moment, the Russian sailors are being held in the building of Cape Verde’s criminal police, "the diplomat said

RABAT, February 2. /TASS/. Eleven Russian sailors, who were earlier detained in Cape Verde, have not been indicted yet, a spokesperson for the Russian embassy in the country told TASS on Saturday.

"Official charges against 11 detained Russian sailors have not been pressed yet. No hearing has been held," the diplomat said.

"At the moment, the Russian sailors are being held in the building of Cape Verde’s criminal police. They are not behind bars and have full consular access. There are neither offences nor complaints," he continued.

The Russian embassy’s diplomats "are maintaining close contact with Cape Verde’s law enforcement agencies," he added.

The Russian sailors were on board the ship flying a flag of Panama when they were detained at the port of Praia in Cape Verde on Thursday. According to the information obtained by the Russian embassy in Cape Verde, the Russian sailors are suspected of smuggling drugs. The embassy added that the ship would be guarded by criminal police until the authorities’ decision against it.