Ukrainian Seamen in American Prison

Federal District Court in Houston, Texas passed a ruling in Case No. n-99371, the people vs. three crew members of the China Breeze (The Day has reported on US law enforcement authorities’ performance and Kyiv’s attempts to intercede). On charges of having smuggled a large shipment of illegal drugs, Captain Serhiy Kudiukov received 25 years and three months; his First Mate, Serhiy Kruhliak, and Second Mate Oleh Khmyznykov, received 24 years and 3 months each. The sad news was related by Ihor Hrushko, head of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry’s press service at a briefing on April 4.

Referring to reports from the Ukrainian Embassy in Washington, Mr. Hrushko informed that, under the court ruling, the convicts will have to serve their terms in full, without any commutations, even on grounds of pardon.

Mr. Hrushko also said that the Ukrainian Consul to the United States would ascertain whether the Ukrainian citizens and their defense council intended to appeal the verdict or whether their deportation to Ukraine could be arranged, so they could serve their terms in their homeland. Consultations are underway with the Justice Department.

Previously, Viktor Kyryk, head of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry’s consular department, noted that, should the US court convict the three China Breeze crew members, the Ukrainian side would see to their fate. Legal consultations would be provided and arrangements for commutation or appeals for a custody change made; the convicts would be visited by people from the Ukrainian Consulate; a message would be prepared and forwarded to the Appellate Court, and other mitigating options considered. Now Mr. Hrushko says the situation has changed. The convicted Ukrainian seamen will have to choose between appeals from the court ruling and requests for transfer to a Ukrainian jail.

(The China Breeze was apprehended by US authorities while in the Caribbean on May 27, 1999, and the Ukrainian crew was accused of smuggling four tons of cocaine into the US, worth $400 million).