ABUJA. Feb 27 (Interfax) - A Nigerian court has set bail for releasing the vessel Myre Seadiver, and this does not imply material claims on Russia, Russian Ambassador to Nigeria Alexander Polyakov told Interfax on Tuesday.
"Nigeria has not made any material claims on Russia as a state in exchange for releasing the vessel Myre Seadiver. The matter implies that the Nigerian court handed down a ruling that set the amount of bail, upon the payment of which the vessel will be released," he said.
This court ruling fully complies with international judicial practices, he said.
The Myre Seadiver operated by a Russian crew of 15 was stopped at the Lagos port on October 19, 2012. Nigerian media reported that 14 Kalashnikov assault rifles, 42 rifles, and over 8,500 rounds of ammunition had been found on board the ship. The vessel is now held at a Nigerian naval base.
Polyakov had told Interfax earlier that the Russian sailors had been released from jail by a Nigerian court under the Russian Embassy's guarantees and are at the embassy now.