AREZOO

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Ukrainian sailor facing death penalty after crew member of Arezoo went missing

The Ukrainian sailor Andrey Novickov, a former crew member of the "Arezoo" was facing a death penalty in the Iran for allegedly killing another crew member of Iranian nationality. The Ukrainian sailor denied the accusation and claimed to be innocent, refusing confession. In January 2017, when the vessel was sailing in the South China Sea, an Iranian sailor, who behaved rather strange and aggressive prior to his death, jumped over board. Andery was the only witness and raised alarm, but the missing man could not be found. A month later Andrey and six other crew men left the ship in Bandar Abbas in order to fly home for vacation. Instead, he was arrested and accused for killing an Iranian citizen. A company’s lawyer pressed him to sign confession, promising in this case a $3,000 fine and immediate extradition to Ukraine. He strongly refused and stayed in prison until September 2017 and went through an ordeal being a Christian who allegedely killed a Muslim. He was bailed out with the help of Ukrainian Consulate, and until now, has remained in Iran. The Ukrainian seamen community demanded from Ukrainian President to intervene and help him.