Ukrainian fisherman Fedorovych returns home
Oleksandr Fedorovych, a Ukrainian fisherman who survived a collision between a Ukrainian fishing vessel and a Russian patrol boat in the Sea of Azov on July 17, 2013, has returned to his native village Bezimenne (Novoazovsky District, Donetsk region).
He was absent from home for three-and-a-half months.
Fedorovych said that on Tuesday, November 5, when he still was in Russia, at 1700 local time an inquiry officer called him and asked him to come to the office of the Russian Federal security service at 1900.
"I came there with my lawyer to read a document on changing my measure of restraint and allowing me to go home," he told journalists.
Fedorovych said that the inquiry proceedings on the case were prolonged until February 20, 2014.
"Until that time they can summon me at any time," he said.
Fedorovych also said that he received "absolutely no assistance from anyone."
"The consulate only gave me $100 once a month, which was as much as I paid for rent. I spent [the money] my wife brought on living," Fedorovych said.
As reported, a Ukrainian fishing vessel and a Russian patrol boat collided in the Sea of Azov off the coast of the Russian village of Vorontsovka at about 1800 on July 17.
The fishing boat capsized and, as a result, four Ukrainians died and one survived. The Ukrainian survivor, Oleksandr Fedorovych, underwent surgery on July 19 in a hospital in Yeysk, in Russia's Krasnodar territory.
A criminal case against the surviving fisherman is being investigated in Russia. Russian law enforcement authorities have already charged the Ukrainian national under Part 3, Article 256 of the Russian Criminal Code (illegal fishing). Fedorovych is facing up to two years in prison.
Kyiv numerous times demanded that Fedorovych be allowed to return to Ukraine. The Ukrainian side also wanted to launch its own investigatory proceedings into the case.
On November 5, Russian prosecution agencies satisfied Ukraine's requests and Fedorovych was released.
Russia will also send the criminal case against the fisherman to Ukraine soon.
