ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
August 24, 2005 Wednesday

Nigerian president to keep eye on Russian sailors case

By Yelena Volkova

MOSCOW

Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo said he will continue to pay
attention to the fate of the Russian sailors who are kept in custody
in his country on charges of oil contraband.

Obasanjo said so in his answer to the appeal by good-will ambassador
Ara Abramyan.

The president said he was taking into consideration Abramyan’s
concern and his wish to quickly resolve the situation.

After completion of judicial procedures and the announcement of the
verdict it might be possible to make political moves or consider the
prisoners exchange option, the president said.

Abramyan, a UNESCO good-will envoy and head of the Union of Armenians
of Russia, is taking an active part in the efforts to secure the
return of the sailors.

Russia passed to the Nigerian lawyers all the necessary documents for
their release under the embassy’s guarantees.

“Russia has completed the formalities demanded by the Nigerian
court.” The documents now need to pass through Nigerian judicial
bodies, a Foreign Ministry official said.