site.btaForeign Minister: Vezhen Ship Case Resolved with Positive Outcome

Speaking to journalists on Monday, Bulgarian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Georgi Georgiev, stated that the case concerning the Vezhen ship had been resolved with a positive outcome.

Earlier in the day, it transpired that the Swedish authorities have released the Maltese-flagged bulk carrier Vezhen, owned by the Bulgarian shipping company Navibulgar. The ship was detained on suspicion of damaging an underwater fiber-optic cable between Latvia and Sweden on January 26. The investigation clearly shows that this was not a case of sabotage, the Swedish Prosecution Authority said, as quoted by Reuters.

Georgiev added: "This puts an end to, in my opinion, a harmful rumor accusing the Bulgarian crew of any malicious intent. No charges have been brought, and there is no talk of malice. I thank the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, our Ambassador, our colleagues in Stockholm, the Ministry of Transport and Communications, and the Swedish authorities who assisted in this case, including their prosecution and foreign ministries, for helping us reach this point where the Bulgarian ship can depart from Sweden."

"As far as I understand, the ship continues its scheduled route," he further said.