Indian Captain Faces 10 Years in UK Prison Over Russian Oil Cargo

An Indian merchant navy captain remains in a British prison, facing up to a decade behind bars after UK authorities accused him of transporting Russian oil in violation of international sanctions. Ajay Pant, 38, was arrested on June 14 when British commandos boarded his tanker, the Smyrtos, in the English Channel, seizing the vessel and its cargo of 98,000 tonnes of crude. Pant, the only crew member charged among the 24 onboard, denies any wrongdoing. His wife, Ritu Pant, has publicly called him a ‘scapegoat’, arguing that as a captain,…

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