ABUJA. Feb 26 (Interfax) - Nigeria has demanded $500,000 to release the Russian ship, the Myre Seadiver, Russian Ambassador to Nigeria Alexander Polyakov told Interfax on Tuesday.
"Although a court in Nigeria granted the Russian embassy's request and handed 15 Russian sailors over to the Russian embassy's custody, Nigeria insists that it be paid $500,000 to free the ship," Polyakov said.
He said no information is available to him whether decisions have been made on payouts.
A ship with a Russian crew of 15 was detained in the port of Lagos on October 19, 2012. The Nigerian media reported that 14 Kalashnikov assault rifles, 42 guns and over 8,500 rounds of ammunition were discovered on board. The ship is currently being held at a Nigerian naval base.
The Russian sailors were handed over to the custody of the Russian embassy on February 25, but the deputy general director of Moran Security Group, the ship owner, said this does not solve the problem and does not satisfy the ship owner.