A Swedish court has authorized the transfer of the cargo ship Caffa to Ukraine as part of an investigation into alleged war crimes. The vessel is suspected of illegally transporting grain from territories temporarily occupied by Russia.
The ruling, reported by Reuters, confirmed the legality of the ship’s seizure by Swedish police and the coast guard in March of this year in the Baltic Sea. The Caffa was reportedly sailing under a false flag and was found to be in violation of maritime safety regulations due to its poor technical condition.
The ship’s owner, Caffa Shipping Limited, attempted to contest the seizure and sought the release of the vessel, but the court rejected this appeal. Ukraine is pursuing the transfer of the Caffa as part of its investigation into potential war crimes related to the appropriation and export of property from occupied areas. The court noted that such actions could be classified as war crimes under Swedish law.
Prosecutor Gokhan Larsson stated that the court has upheld the legality of the ship’s seizure and the potential transfer to Ukraine. However, the decision is not yet final, as the ship’s owners have three weeks to file an appeal.
According to the Swedish police, most of the ship’s 11 crew members are Russian nationals. The Caffa is a 96-meter-long cargo vessel.
In March, Swedish authorities detained the Caffa near the city of Trelleborg in the Baltic Sea. The Ukrainian side links the ship to the illegal export of grain from occupied Crimea and other territories seized by Russia. Previously, the vessel had been placed on Ukraine’s sanctions list.
Additionally, the Office of the President of Ukraine has revealed the mechanisms through which Russia allegedly steals Ukrainian grain and sells it abroad.
A Swedish court has ruled to transfer the cargo ship Caffa to Ukraine amid allegations of war crimes related to grain transport from occupied territories. The vessel was seized by authorities in March and is linked to illegal activities involving stolen Ukrainian grain.
Source: Reuters