| Russian sailors say they are hiding from the mafia In former times, there were cases when Soviet sailors remained in Canadian ports and asked the authorities for political asylum. However, what happened late last week in Halifax never happened. 39 sailors, two-thirds of the entire crew, escaped from the Russian refrigerated trawler Bison. There are 21 people left on the trawler; the ship can no longer go to sea. The fugitives stated that they did not intend to return to the trawler, since the living and working conditions there were unbearable, and they had not been paid wages for six months.
A rusty trawler more than 30 years old is indeed a sad sight. International Transport Workers' Federation inspector John Parsons, who examined the ship, concluded that sailing on it was dangerous. Transport Canada ordered the trawler to be detained in port until it passes a safety inspection. The sailors, meanwhile, complained about the captain, who, they claim, kept them in the position of slaves and, as in Soviet times, did not allow them to go ashore. They didn't even have the opportunity to call home. The number of seafarers who have asked for political asylum in Canada is constantly growing. Eight people have already submitted an official application, and another three dozen have announced that they plan to do the same. A work conflict in itself cannot be a basis for obtaining refugee status. But some sailors claim that the ship belongs to the mafia, and therefore they fear for their lives. According to their stories, the owners constantly lie to them and violate the contract. The sailors don't even know when they will finish their work. Last year's report from the Canadian intelligence and security service SISIS testifies in their favor. It indicates that the ships of a number of trading and fishing companies visiting Canadian ports are connected with the Eastern European mafia, which took them over during privatization. Canadian authorities have not yet been able to find out who owns the Bison. Officially, the ship is registered as a joint venture - the investment company Sarmat Nord. But the Canadians were unable to obtain intelligible information from an employee of this company over the phone. According to Bison's Canadian agent Jim Rowding, an employee of FK Warren Ltd., he only knows that the owners are in St. Petersburg. The Canadian company abandoned its obligations towards the Bison, citing the fact that the coast guard was now in charge of the vessel. FK Warren's motives are clear. According to Canadian law, ship owners must pay 15 thousand Canadian dollars for each passenger or crew member who has asked for political asylum.
On Friday, the Halifax Herald received a fax from a certain Alexander Mikhailov, who identified himself as the owner of the ship and president of Sarmat Nord Ltd. in St. Petersburg. He said that although everything that was happening was a violation of international law, he was not going to judge the team. He expressed outrage at accusations that his company has ties to the mafia. Attempts to reach Mr. Mikhailov were unsuccessful. While the Canadian immigration service is interviewing the escaped sailors, the local branch of the Salvation Army took care of them: they were given accommodation for the night and provided with food. The Canadian Automobile Workers Union gave each person $50 and a $20 phone card to call home. Gennady NEVOLIN, Montreal |
|
