“I take your concern and intention to solve the issue as soon as possible into an account,” he said in a letter to the UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Ara Abramyan and told him that after the court proceedings are finished and the verdict is announced he may “make political steps or consider a possibility of exchanging detainees”.

The Russians were among some 307 people arrested by Nigerian security forces between October 2003 and February 2004. They were crewmembers of the African Pride tanker — sailing under Greek flag and faced charges of stealing thousand of tons of oil and even sabotaging Nigerian pipelines. Industry executives estimate Nigeria’s losses at between 50,000 and 100,000 barrels daily, worth $2-$3 million.

After the vessel owners had stolen in from Lagos harbor in Aug. 2004, the sailors were additionally charged with vessel hijack. Prosecutors demand life imprisonment for them while the Russians plead not guilty.

Obasanjo shaking hands with Russian president, Vladimir Putin

Missing tanker 'shame' in Nigeria, Monday, 20 Sept., 2004

The disappearance of a Russian oil tanker in Nigerian custody is a "national embarrassment" says a senior MP investigating the case. Nigeria's navy seized MT African Pride tanker along with 13 Russian sailors, on suspicion of smuggling last October. But the tanker, laden with crude oil, disappeared last month. Navy and police officials have blamed each other. Some 30,000 barrels of oil are lost to fuel thieves each day in Nigeria, officials.......    More