Pirates demand ransom for captured Russian sailors in the Gulf of Guinea.
The Russian sailors who were captured by pirates in the Gulf of Guinea are still alive. The kidnappers are demanding a ransom for their release.
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| Illustration photo: Sputnik |
On the night of January 2nd, pirates attacked the container ship MSC Mandy in the Gulf of Guinea. There were 24 people on board, including 23 Russian citizens and one Ukrainian citizen, six of whom were kidnapped.
"The pirates are demanding a ransom. That's quite clear. They are currently determining where to transfer the money and release the prisoners. However, there is still no information about where the Russian sailors are being held. Usually, they are held captive in the jungle," Fishov said.
"When demanding a ransom, pirates often give negotiators (ship owners don't negotiate directly but through intermediaries, usually companies based in the UK) the opportunity to assure them that the crew is still alive and well. These are normal actions. The ransom payment and the release of the crew usually happen at the same time," the ITF coordinator added.
Mr. Fishov did not provide details on when further contact with the pirates would be made. He also did not specify the total ransom amount.
"This is a price negotiation; in every case, the intermediary will lower the price and eventually reach a compromise based on reality," he concluded.