Finnish prosecutors seek prison term for Russian captain in Baltic cable damage case

Tuesday 08 September 2026 - 18:25

By: Azzat Manal

Finnish prosecutors seek prison term for Russian captain in Baltic cable damage case

Finnish prosecutors are seeking a prison sentence of at least two and a half years for the captain of the Russian-linked cargo vessel Fitburg, accusing him of damaging subsea cables in the Gulf of Finland in December 2025.

The case went before the Helsinki District Court on Tuesday, following an investigation into damage to maritime infrastructure in the Gulf of Finland. Finnish authorities detained the vessel in December after suspecting that one of its operations had resulted in damage to an underwater cable.

The vessel's captain, Andrei Maksimenko, an Azerbaijani national, denies the allegations. He has rejected claims that he deliberately caused the damage or acted negligently before leaving port or while the vessel was at sea. Other members of the crew have also denied the accusations.

The captain's defense has challenged Finland's jurisdiction over the case. His lawyer argues that, under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, legal proceedings should fall under the jurisdiction of either the country where the vessel is registered or the country of the accused person's nationality.

Fitburg sails under the flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. When Finnish authorities detained the vessel in December 2025, eight Russian nationals were reportedly on board as part of the crew.

The ship later left Finland in January, while the captain and two other Russian crew members remained in the country under travel restrictions imposed by Finnish authorities. The restrictions prevent them from leaving Finland while the legal proceedings continue.

The Russian Embassy in Helsinki has said that its consular officials are assisting the Russian sailors subject to the travel ban and monitoring the protection of their procedural rights.

The prosecution's demand for a lengthy prison sentence comes amid heightened concern across the Baltic Sea region over the security of underwater infrastructure, including telecommunications and power cables. Damage to such infrastructure has prompted increased scrutiny of commercial vessels operating in the area.

The court proceedings are expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the cable damage, the actions of the crew and whether Finnish courts have jurisdiction over the case. A final ruling has yet to be issued.