Kherson city court has refused to extend the obligation for the captain of the Russian vessel Nord Vladimir Gorbenko regarding the prohibition of entry to Crimea. The measure of restraint in the form of a bail remains in force as perpetual, said press secretary of the Crimean prosecutor’s office Tatyana Tikhonchik.
“The court has refused to extend the obligation for a suspect Gorbenko not to visit the territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. The measure of restraint in the form of a bail, as well as the obligation to inform about his place of stay and to appear to the investigator, remains in force,” Tikhonchik told Interfax-Ukraine on June 19.
According to her, two criminal proceedings against the captain of the Nord were combined into one. Gorbenko will be notified of a new suspicion. Also, the prosecutor’s office will apply to the court regarding the change in the measure of restraint.
As reported, on March 25, 2018, the Ukrainian State Border Guard Service detained the Nord seiner (flying the flag of the Russian Federation, home port of Kerch) with ten crewmembers on board.
The ship’s captain, Vladimir Gorbenko, is charged with Article 332-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (violating the order for entry into or exit from the occupied territory of Ukraine with the aim of damaging the interests of the country).
On April 6, the Kherson City Court selected a preventive measure for him in the form of custody until May 31 with the possibility of posting Hr 35,240 bail (about $1,300). Lawyers posted the money and Gorbenko was released from custody on April 10.
Later, Gorbenko was notified of the suspicion in committing another crime – under Article 249 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (illegal fishing or hunting or any other sea hunting industry). The Kherson City Court selected the measure of restraint for him in the form of personal recognizance.
Other crewmembers are charged under Part 2, Article 204 of the Code of Administrative Offences of Ukraine (illegal crossing of the border), punishable by a fine of 100 to 300 non-taxable minimum incomes of citizens or up to 15 days of administrative arrest. On the same day, the Prymorsky District Court of Mariupol (Donetsk region) ruled to fine the crew of the fishing vessel.
On April 7, it became known that crewmembers of the Nord vessel did not return to the seiner and stayed in a hotel. In the evening of the same day, the ship’s crew unsuccessfully tried to leave Ukraine through the Hoptivka checkpoint in Kharkiv region.
