Russian authorities have reacted to the abduction of two Norwegian inspectors who were whisked away while trying to make an arrest for fishing violations.
The district attorney of Murmansk county has charged the captain of the Russian fishing trawler Murmansk with several offenses, including kidnapping the Norwegian inspectors.
"The Murmansk district attorney has decided to press charges on the basis of the material Russian authorities have received from Norway," a spokesman for the Russian prosecution told news agency Itar-Tass.
Captain Valeri Yarantsev is charged with violating the Russian penal code concerning illegal fishing and loss of liberty.
Police in Tromsø in northern Norway, who have been investigating the case, were taken by surprise by the news on Tuesday.
"We are a bit surprised and now need to clarify if this is correct," police commissioner Truls Fyhn told newspaper VG's web site.
