On January 7, Ukraine filed a lawsuit against Russia in the European Court of Human Rights for the detention of sailors in the Black Sea.
Kyiv demands that the detention and arrest of their sailors be recognized as illegal, Commissioner for the ECHR Ivan Lishchyna wrote on “Facebook”.
“Guys, we remember you and we are doing everything to get you back from captivity!” Lishchyna added.
On November 25, three ships of the Ukrainian Navy were passig from Odessa to Mariupol. The Russian side accused them of violating the state border and “dangerous maneuvering”. Russia sent military reinforcements to the scene of the incident, including combat helicopters.
Since the Ukrainian ships were not allowed into the Sea of Azov, they finally turned back to Odessa. But the Russians pursued the Ukrainians in neutral waters, demanded a halt, and eventually used lethal force. “Nikopol”, “Berdyansk” and “Yany Kapu” gunboats were captured and sent to Kerch. From 3 to 6 Ukrainian sailors were injured, about 23 people were captured.
The jurisdiction of the ECHR has extended to Russia since 1998.
A criminal case was initiated against the detained sailors on charges of violating the state border of the Russian Federation. Moscow said that the actions of the Ukrainian side were a provocation. Kyiv called the events in the Kerch Strait an act of aggression, imposed martial law in the country for 30 days (at first it was about 60) and demanded the release of its sailors and ships.
Western countries did not believe in the version of Moscow and condemned the actions of the Russian side. In the UN Security Council, Russia was severely criticized.
