MOSCOW, January 09, 16:17 /ITAR-TASS/. Russia demands Senegal immediately release the arrested trawler “Oleg Naidyonov”, Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said on Thursday.
Senegalese charge d’affairs to Russia Mamadou Dieng was summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry to have a talk with Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and Foreign Ministry Commissioner for Human Rights Konstantin Dolgov, the diplomat said.
“Moscow hopes that the incident will be settled soon in the spirit of friendly Russian-Senegalese relations,” Lukashevich said.
The ministry said it maintained contacts with the Federal Agency for Fisheries and controlled the situation related to the Russian trawler.
The ministry said it was necessary “to comply with the norms of international law and observe the interests of Russian sailors aboard the trawler, including giving them foodstuffs and drinking water, and medical assistance”.
For his part, Dieng said the Senegalese authorities would do their best to settle the situation, which should not have an impact on relations between both countries.
It is inadmissible to take crew members of the Russian trawler “Oleg Naidenov” hostages, Foreign Ministry Commissioner for Human Rights, Democracy and the Supremacy of Law Konstantin Dolgov told Itar-Tass on Thursday.
The situation should be settled on a civilized basis, Dolgov said.
“If there are certain pretensions, they should be settled on a civilized basis in compliance with the existing bilateral and multilateral mechanisms,” the diplomat said.