Russian prosecutors found no suspicious materials on the ship Arctic Sea despite media reports it was carrying an air-defence system for Iran, Russian newswires reported on Saturday. Russia’s foreign minister denied the British and Russian press reports earlier this month.
The Maltese-registered cargo ship was officially carrying timber from Finland to Algeria when it was boarded on July 24 by eight men. They were charged with kidnapping and piracy after it was intercepted by Russian warships off Cape Verde.