A Russian captain and an Azerbaijani crew member faced trial in Finland on September 8, 2026, regarding damage to two undersea telecommunications cables in the Gulf of Finland. The individuals are accused of using the anchor of the cargo ship Fitburg, which is 132 meters long, to cause the damage. Finnish authorities detained the vessel on December 31, 2025, as it was en route from Russia to Israel, and registered in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
Prosecutors allege that the ship’s anchor damaged two telecom cables that connect Finland and Estonia, with additional claims that the crew attempted to damage eight other subsea connections. The anchor reportedly scraped along the seabed for over 130 kilometers before the ship was halted. A pivotal point in the trial revolves around the fact that the damage occurred outside of Finland’s territorial waters, specifically within Estonia’s exclusive economic zone.
The captain and the bosun have denied the charges, asserting that Finland lacks jurisdiction due to the location of the incident. They are facing charges of criminal mischief and interference with telecommunications, with prosecutors seeking prison sentences of at least 30 months. The case has raised concerns over significant damage to Finland’s telecommunications and energy networks. The ongoing trial echoes a previous case involving another vessel, where jurisdiction was also questioned, highlighting the complexities related to maritime law in the region.
