MOSCOW, January 11 (Itar-Tass) - Guinea Bissau has formed a panel of inquiry to probe into the reasons behind the detention of Russia’s fishing boat The Oleg Naidenov in its territorial waters.

The Council of Ministers said in an official statement the commission comprising foreign, interior, defence and health ministry officials would look into the arrest of the Russian ship by Sinhalese military.

At the moment of detention the Russian fishing boat had a fishing permit issued by Guinea Bissau’s Fisheries Ministry, the government’s statement runs. “After the seizure of the ship by Senegalese military our maritime observers on board the Oleg Naidenov were beaten up,” the government of Guinea Bissau said. It described such actions by Senegal as crude violation of international laws that by no means contribute to maintaining a climate of peace and neighbourliness.

The Russian fishing boat was detained in the territorial waters of Guinea Bissau on January 5, 2014. It has been under arrest at the port of Dakar ever since. There are 82 people on board - 62 Russian citizens and 20 citizens of Guinea Bissau, including two observers.

Earlier, Captain Vadim Mantorov said the crew needed medical assistance.