MOSCOW. Dec 10 (Interfax) - The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) is planning to initiate investigative actions with respect to the Ukrainian sailors who were arrested in the Kerch Strait.
"I will most likely meet with my client this week, because investigative actions are planned," Ilya Novikov, a lawyer for Roman Mokryak, the commander of the boat Berdyansk, told Interfax.
The lawyer said "it is currently unknown" what investigative actions are planned.
Nikolai Polozov, a lawyer for sailor Denis Hrytsenko, told Interfax he expects to meet with his client on Tuesday. He could not say if any investigative actions will be taken.
"A meeting is scheduled for tomorrow, it may take place at the detention facility, maybe in the investigative directorate," Polozov said on Monday.
The lawyers told Interfax that they do not have any information regarding when the appeals filed by their clients contesting their arrest will be considered.
Polozov said that "if the first-instance court's decision was made in Crimea, the appeal will also be in Crimea."
"The law allows us to do so by video linkup," he said.
The Russian border guard used weapons to stop three Ukrainian naval vessels - the Yany Kapu tug and the Berdyansk and the Nikopol armored gunboats - near the Kerch Strait on November 25. Three sailors were wounded. Courts in Crimea sanctioned the arrest of all 24 crewmembers of these vessels until January 25, 2019. The sailors have been transferred to Moscow; most of them are currently being held at the Lefortovo detention center, while the wounded are in the infirmary of the Matrosskaya Tishina detention center.
The Ukrainians are charged with the illegal crossing of Russia's border by a group by previous concert with the use of arms.
Kyiv calls the detained sailors POWs. The FSB says they cannot be regarded as POWs, as they are charged with a crime and Russia and Ukraine are not in a state of war or military conflict.