EXCLUSIVE.
EXCLUSIVE.
Lyudmila VORONKOVA, for "Today" (from Odessa).
THE LAWYER OF THE UKRAINIAN SEAMAN... HAS SUNG IN THE AMERICAN COURT THE SONG
ABOUT THE CLIENT!.
Our newspaper of the first has told about arrest of four Ukrainian
The seamen accused of contraband of four tons of cocaine and
Containing in the Houston prison since June, 6th, 1999. With 9 on 23
November there was a court after which termination with a verdict "was not guilty"
Sailor Sergey the Ljubikovsky, professional seaman, "is released on
To water "since 1986. A trade to change is not going to:" Floated and I will be
To float ". In half a year of the unfair conclusion Sergey again
At home, in Odessa.
"WE DID NOT UNDERSTAND THE TRANSLATOR, AND IT - US...".
-- Sergey, tell, how this drama with arrest has begun.
-- All was full unexpectedness: over us there was a helicopter,
The British military ship has approached, then on a vessel has landed
Group of the American coast guard. Anybody could understand nothing.
The permission to disembarkation and examination has not been shown. The command
Have collected in a dining room where it and was in full ignorance with 6
Evenings till 12 o'clock next day. As it was then found out, mentioned
Commandoes have received the permission only in 21 hour after disembarkation.
When have found out, how they have told, illicit cargo (drugs),
That have informed on this all to crew and decided, that with us to do.
Have convoyed under Houston, completely taking a vessel under the control.
In spite of the fact that concerned us correctly enough, the command
Was in a shock. And when on a vessel the Greek agent (the employer has landed
-- The Greek company. - a bus), already about any politeness speech not
Went. We worked as usually and at all did not discuss this detention:
Nobody believed in contraband, as this cargo to us not
Have shown. Then us, a four from the Ukrainian command, have arrested
(Colombians Nikolaos Papadimiriou and 16-year-old Edilson Busto-Useche,
Changed on the ship in May after cocaine loading, recognised itself
Guilty to court. - buses) also have taken away in prison, not having explained even
Our rights, at least as it becomes in the American films on
To the relation to the most inveterate criminals. Have not given the consul,
Neither the professional translator, nor lawyers - anything. On a vessel
We took readings with such translator, which even not
Understood. And whether he understood us?.
-- In some mass-media there has passed the information, that you were detained,
Because you whether protected the captain, whether showed resistance...
-- No. Anything such was not. To us (four) declared, that
Are arrested, not explaining, why we.
-- How contained in prison?.
-- Well, to compare to me, thanks God, there is nothing, but conditions were, on
My sight, normal. In the "convenience" chamber, the TV, draughts,
Chess, dominoes, the bible, sometimes brought the local newspaper. Fed
Three times a day. The meal, of course, not absolutely habitual but to live it is possible.
We corresponded with the native. I have saved all letters from wife Irina,
Mine "dekabristochki", and 14-year-old daughter Annushki. This most
Expensive, that heated soul and gave to hope. Because at all
Conveniences there was no main thing - freedom. And in the chamber without windows not
Light ray got even...
"I DO NOT DOUBT, THAT WITNESSES INTIMIDATED...".
-- You did not feel all left?.
-- No. Our wives, thanking, by the way, to your newspaper, have lifted the such
Noise, what even the American authorities have understood: Ukraine not that country, where
"Will spit" on the people. Much we were helped by the local orthodox
Community with father Ljubomirom, journalist Sofia. Not bad to us
Policemen from protection concerned also. My lawyer well worked. It,
Having familiarised with business, at once has told, that it is assured of mine
Innocence. Now, by the way, it was connected to Sergey's protection
Round timber of which innocence too it is convinced.
-- You rested the big hopes of court, including on
Jurymen. With your opinion concerning their choice were considered?.
-- Yes. From 45 candidates for the jury have chosen 14. We had the right
To give up to the candidate even if its expression simply was not pleasant
Persons. It seemed to me, that jurymen believed in our innocence.
Why have justified not all?. There Was an impression, that court (conducted
Process the federal judge of southern district of Texas Lin Hughes. - a bus) in
The current of all of 12 days was any in advance rehearsed
Performance. As though a problem to the answer adjusted. Witnesses from
Crew structure on court did not call, used fragments
Videorecordings of the first indications taken on a vessel. And
Combined, as they would like. I do not doubt, that witnesses
Intimidated, as well as me - persuaded to confess, tell on
Crew, promised for it freedom, and differently threatened even lifelong
The conclusion. The chief of radio station on inquiry under the oath directly
Has declared, that the pressure was put upon it, forcing to give
The "necessary" indications. Otherwise threatened to plant too. Told
The juryman a job principle, for example, ship telegraph and others
Mechanisms, overloading, in my opinion, the unnecessary information. The purpose
Here there could be only one - to confuse jurymen. Have given up
To lawyers in the invitation of experts on the sea business, all explanations
The nonprofessional gave. On court the public prosecutor was a master of the situation, and
For protection have allocated only two days. Almost any protest of the lawyer
Court has not been satisfied, and public prosecutor's - please, almost
All...
IF UKRAINIANS SIT, THE GREEK WILL RECEIVE THE HALF-MILLION.
The lawyer of the captain, David Ronin, proved, that anybody from us not
Knew, what goods have been loaded. The captain for it did not respond. To us,
To sailors, and that was visible, that with all the starpom-Greek filled, and
The captain was some kind of the driver - conducted the ship the set course. All
Faxes went in the Greek language. To us accused of contraband
Drugs, at all have not shown cargo contents. I so till now and
I do not know, that we all the same transported. And in general, as they say, and
Whether there was a boy?.
Lawyer Mark Carter fairly asserted, that my job as
The crane operator did not assume knowledge of contents of that I loaded.
And on loading (4 tons!) all sailors worked. And it is not clear,
Why have decided to arrest me. Know, they, lawyers, believed
In our innocence also respected us. Lawyer Oleg Hmyznikova
(The third assistant. - a bus) Mark Bennet about the client even
Song has written and has executed itself on court! We, to tell the truth, a little
Were stunned by the such... And everything of what the public prosecutor accused Oleg, the lawyer
Has put Hmyznikovu in a merit.
-- And what Greek Nicolas Zervos spoke on court starpom?.
-- In the first, we during process have learnt, that it the smuggler with
The experience. To prove, that it is the agent of any investigation, not
Smog. And concerning us has told, that will receive 500 thousand US dollars from
The American bodies on struggle against drugs, if Ukrainian
Seamen will plant.
-- What, directly and has declared?.
-- If only it. He has told, that in Odessa in each agency
On I will employ seamen to the future members of crew at once inform,
That the command, say, will transport drugs! Employ, only
If you will agree... This open insult of all Odessa
krjuingovyh the companies which provide today stolkih seamen
Job.
-- Means, freedom of our children costs a half-million of dollars,
Which waits starpom, knowing about cargo contents?.
-- And the Greek also does not refuse. But it, whether see, ostensibly the agent, and to court
Is not subject...
-- That is our children have simply substituted, having decided, that Ukrainians
Not with whom it is necessary to be considered?.
-- There was an impression, that they did not expect such resonance on
Our arrest. And we have stood. You would see, how kept on process
The captain. It one of a four gave evidences in court. The professional,
The worthy person, the sustained, self-assured person.
The American, the expert of sea business with whom we have made friends, has given
To the captain an estimation as to the professional of a high class. He too is assured,
That the captain is not guilty. "If our government accuses him, -
The American has told, - I will cease to respect the government ".
ROSES FROM HOUSTON.
-- How you have apprehended a court verdict? (We will remind, three, except
Sergey Ljubikovskogo, are recognised by guilty. - a bus).
-- It was a shock, - Irina Ljubikovskaja has entered conversation. - I
Even at once has not caught, that Serezha it is free. We waited for the justification
For all. Only it is then cunning, when Serezhe have already allowed to approach to
To me. And Natasha Kurdjukova and Light Hmyznikova have begun to cry... However, it
Have then resolved appointment, as they say, with contact. Before to us
Gave appointments every day and not for 15 minutes, as everything, and on
Half an hour, but all it was through glass, in a full hall. And here it is possible
Was though to embrace husbands, to have a little cry on a shoulder. In general, policemen in
To prison, and it basically Negroes and Mexicans, is favourable to us
Concerned. As now I remember the second appointment. Have come, we see the,
And places before glass are occupied. With me there was a hysterics, I it
To Negroes I explain, that places are not present, they do not understand, and time goes. Then
Have taken away us in a room of lawyers and have added even 10 minutes...
-- Let's return to process. After the announcement of a verdict of jurymen you
For the second day have departed home?.
-- Serezha - yes, and I in two days.
-- Why?.
-- I had such ticket. And to change to it or me as have told, "not
It is given possible ". So Serezha waited for me in Kiev and
Met.
-- With colours?.
-- No, - Irina laughs, - flowers to it were carried by me, from Houston. Smart
Roses. We will dry them, and it will be the most expensive family relic.
-- What, specially bought?.
-- No, flowers were presented by new friends seeing off us. We after all, three
Women when have arrived that is called, "have mounted upon a neck"
To orthodox community. These people have lodged us in hotel, fed and
Helped, than could. And a family of the American seaman, about which already
Sergey spoke, has paid us special attention. When Serezhu
Have released, this family took us to itself. Here they also saw off me.
-- Other wives of seamen while in Houston?.
-- Yes, Natasha and Light still remained to struggle for the husbands.
Lawyers submit appeals, consider, that will prove innocence of children.
Hard, of course, Serezhe to the Round timber. Its Oksana before the start
Has fallen down with a pneumonia, now complication finishes the cure. And
Very much suffers, that could not be a number. Certainly, - sighs
Irina, - if we could pay the solid lawyer, would win
Unequivocally. But money such at us even is not present all four. We
Have addressed in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, there have told, that in the budget the similar
Expenses are not provided...
INSTEAD OF THE EPILOGUE.
Charge, referring to a ship role (the special sea document.
-- Bus) without the uniform signature, asserted, that Sergey Ljubikovsky
Has received "bonus" $7500. This fact have not proved. But another not
Demands proofs: Sergey, as well as all crew, has not received
The salary two months of job prior to arrest, is not present and there was no speech about
Any indemnification for six months of stay in the transatlantic
To prison. And the Greek who has "substituted" Ukrainians expects the half-millions...
//* an information Source: "Today", the newspaper, 14.12.99
//* Reg. Nom. - 8091200148.45-------------------------------------------
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