Russia-S. Korea Russia demands release of its ship detained by S. Korea

MOSCOW, Oct 1 :The Russian Foreign Ministry said Monday that it
had summoned the South Korean ambassador and demanded an immediate release of the Russian vessel “Sevastopol” held in Busan port.
According to media reports, the South Korean authorities banned the Russian cargo ship’s exit from the port, where it was docked since mid-August for repairs.
Media have linked the detention to US sanctions on the ship’s owner, Vladivostok- based Gudzon shipping company, for alleged violation of sanctions on the Democratic People’s
Republic of Korea.
On August 21, the US Treasury imposed sanctions on Gudzon and its vessels for alleged “ship-to-ship transfer of refined petroleum products with North Korea-flagged vessels.”The Russian side has yet to comment on the media reports.