Authorities started extradition proceedings for Alexei Kradzgur, a 47-year-old Israeli national of Russian origin, arrested on Saturday at Larnaca port following an Interpol warrant related to the 2009 hijacking of a cargo vessel in the Baltic Sea.
Larnaca District Court scheduled the next hearing for 14 November and ordered Kradzgur to remain in custody. He arrived aboard a cruise ship from Haifa that made a brief stop at Larnaca port when authorities discovered the outstanding Russian arrest warrant.
Russian authorities allege Kradzgur participated in planning the hijacking of the Arctic Sea, a Malta-flagged cargo vessel that departed Jakobstad port in Finland on 23 July 2009 carrying timber.
Court orders detention until November hearing
On the evening of 24 July 2009, the vessel was attacked in the Baltic Sea by armed individuals posing as police officers, according to Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, which published extensive coverage of the arrest. The attackers boarded the ship, severely beat the 15 Russian crew members, bound them, locked them in cabins, and seized control of the vessel.
The Russian navy recaptured the ship on 17 August 2009 near the Cape Verde Islands in the Atlantic Ocean. Eight primary hijackers, mainly from Estonia and Latvia, were arrested and sentenced to up to 15 years imprisonment for piracy and kidnapping by a Russian court in 2011. The convicted individuals claimed they were mercenaries hired to increase demand for maritime security services.
Kradzgur faces charges of armed piracy, kidnapping and extortion. He is accused of participating in planning and executing the attack, including recruiting personnel and coordinating accounting operations from Latvia.
Arctic Sea hijacking remains unresolved mystery
The incident generated widespread speculation in 2009, including claims about secret Russian weapons cargo or intelligence service connections, according to Yedioth Ahronoth. Russian authorities denied such theories, characterising the incident as piracy.
A parallel investigation in Latvia published in 2009 revealed Kradzgur’s involvement, identifying him as owner of an advertising business in Riga described at the time as a man who “loved sushi and computer games”.
Kradzgur was previously arrested in connection with this case in 2009. He was released on bail but subsequently fled and was declared wanted by Interpol.
Defence lawyer questions timing of Russian action
His Israeli attorney, Nir Yaslovitzh, said the Russian request was “highly belated” and questioned the timing. “Given the years of inaction by Russian authorities, this delay alone should weigh heavily in favor of his release under Cypriot law,” he said.
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