Sweden's top court clears way for transfer of seized ship to Ukraine

Sweden's top court has upheld a ruling to hand over a seized cargo vessel to Ukraine, where it is suspected of illegally transporting grain from Russian-occupied territory.

Sweden's top court ​said on Thursday it has ​upheld a ruling ‌that a ​cargo vessel seized in the Baltic Sea this year can be handed over ‌to Ukraine, where it is suspected of illegally transporting grain from Russian-occupied territory. The supreme court dismissed an appeal from the owners of ‌the Caffa vessel, which was seized in March off southern ‌Sweden on suspicion of sailing under a false flag and of violating maritime and ship safety laws due to a lack of seaworthiness.

Ukraine has ⁠sought ​the ship ⁠as part of a probe into suspected war crimes involving the appropriation and ⁠removal of property from Russian-occupied territory. Lower Swedish courts said those alleged ​actions could constitute a war crime under Swedish law, meaning ⁠Sweden could transfer the vessel and related evidence to Ukraine.

"The Supreme Court ⁠does ​not grant leave to appeal. The Court of Appeal's decision is therefore final," the supreme court said in a ⁠ruling dated August 4. Most of the 11 crew members on Caffa, ⁠which ⁠is owned by Caffa Shipping Limited, were Russian, police said at the time of the seizure.