(RIA Novosti) - Georgia has let a Russian cargo ship go after it paid a $30,000 fine for allegedly breaking shipping rules, the Georgian Interior Ministry said Wednesday.
Georgian border guards detained the Astrakhan freighter with a crew of 13, carrying construction materials from Gemlik in Turkey to Georgia's Black Sea port Poti on December 3, citing navigation violations in a restricted Black Sea zone, reports Trend.
Under Georgian law, violations of navigation rules entail a fine. In the event of non-payment, ships are confiscated and can be sold at auction.
Last week, Georgian border guards detained another Russian dry cargo ship near Poti, saying it was polluting the environment. It was fined $35,000.