The trial was held in closed session, as FSB had planned. The announcement of the decision was open – journalists and relatives of the prisoners were present, Hromadske reports.
Attorneys of the seamen appealed to the military court because the seamen are the prisoners of war. However, the judge rejected the request.
Instead, FSB investigators asked to extend the custody of Ukrainians allegedly because the seamen could escape the investigation. Attorneys said that the investigators did not substantiate their claim.
The seamen themselves were fully supported by their lawyers and did not answer any questions of judges which did not relate to their name and title, referring to the Geneva Convention and the provisions on prisoners of war.
Sailors were trialed by six groups of 4 people. Ukrainians, referring to the Geneva Convention, refused to answer any questions in the court that were not related to their name and military title. On the eve of the trial, relatives of sailors arrived in Moscow, but FSB did not allow them to see the prisoners.
