Ukraine has officially asked Israel to seize a second bulk carrier carrying stolen Ukrainian grain
This was announced by Ukraine’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Andriy Sybiga.
The Office of the Prosecutor General has already sent a request to the Israeli authorities based on a Ukrainian court ruling to seize the vessel as part of the ongoing investigation.
The vessel is suspected of transporting a grain cargo that was illegally exported from a closed port in the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine in violation of international law and Ukrainian legislation.
Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko clarified that the Ukrainian side is asking its Israeli partners to seize the vessel and its cargo, conduct a search, seize the vessel’s and cargo documentation, take grain samples and question the crew members.
“This is not Twitter diplomacy, but a very specific legal and diplomatic request for international legal assistance, which requires a response. We expect the Israeli side to take it seriously, rather than responding with emotional statements,” the minister emphasised.
According to investigators, since the start of Russia’s full-scale aggression, over 1.7 million tonnes of agricultural produce, with a total value of over 20 billion hryvnias, have been illegally exported from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.
“The era of unpunished looting under foreign flags is over. We continue to systematically identify every offending vessel and work to bring to justice all those involved in war crimes against Ukraine,” said Prosecutor General Kravchenko.
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