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Where there is no law, but every man does what is right in his own eyes, there is the least of real liberty
Henry M. Robert

Nigerian Tribes Do Not Respect Ukraine

17 November, 1998 - 00:00


Businessman and Chief Idissi of a local Nigerian tribe demanded $12
million from the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Ukraine
to Nigeria Ivan Kuleba to release the captain and three crew members of
Dubai Valor ship. The Ukrainians have been held hostage for over a year
in Nigerian province of Delta.

Viktor Kyryk, the chairman of the consular department of Ukrainian Ministry
of Foreign Affairs, officially reported last week, that the Nigerian Supreme
Court adopted a verdict stating that Ukrainian citizens are free and no
one is allowed to keep them in jail. The verdict was later approved by
the Supreme Court of Arbitration. Moreover, bailiffs were assigned to transfer
the Ukrainian sailors to the Nigerian capital, Lagos, by November 5. However,
a diplomat emphasized, "The decision of the federal organs was totally
ignored by local authorities." Earlier, the incident could have been considered
an internal affair, but now the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has
no option but to officially proclaim the Ukrainian citizens hostages.

Kyryk told The Day, that the Ukrainian diplomats, who came to
Nigeria to negotiate the release of Ukrainian sailors, were threatened
with murder more than once. Nigerians also hinted that the hostages will
be executed should Ukraine attempt to liberate them by force.

However, even in this situation, Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
refuses to consider a military solution to the problem and hopes that the
negotiation process will continue.

 

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