TURKISH CUSTOMS SEIZE RUSSIAN SHIP CARRYING UKRAINIAN GRAIN

Sun 03 July 2022:

Turkish customs authorities have detained a Russian cargo ship carrying grain that Ukraine says is stolen, Ukraine’s ambassador to Türkiye said on Sunday.

“We have full co-operation. The ship is currently standing at the entrance to the port, it has been detained by the customs authorities of Türkiye,” ambassador Vasyl Bodnar said on Ukrainian national television.

Bodnar said that the ship’s fate would be decided by a meeting of investigators on Monday.

UKRAINE GRAIN IS TRANSPORTED TO SYRIA BY RUSSIAN SHIPS: REPORT

Ukraine was reported on Friday to have requested that Turkey detain and arrest the Russian-flagged cargo ship Zhibek Zholy carrying a cargo of Ukrainian grain from the Russian-occupied port of Berdyansk, according to a Ukrainian official and a document seen by Reuters.

The Ukrainian foreign ministry official, citing information received from the country’s maritime administration, said the 7,146 dwt Zhibek Zholy had loaded the first cargo of some 4,500 tons of grain from Berdyansk, which the official said belonged to Ukraine.

Bodnar said in early June that Turkish buyers were among those receiving grain that Russia had stolen from Ukraine, adding he had sought Turkey’s help to identify and capture individuals responsible for the alleged shipments.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said two weeks ago that Ankara was investigating allegations that Ukrainian grain has been stolen by Russia and will not allow any such grain to be brought to the country.

Western countries have accused Russia of creating the risk of global famine by stopping Ukraine from exporting grain via its Black Sea ports. Moscow denies responsibility for the international food crisis, blaming Western sanctions.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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