Summary: Ukraine’s Ambassador to Australia and New Zealand, Vasyl Myroshnychenko, speaking at the annual international meeting of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) reported the unlawful detention by Russia of Dr. Leonid Pshenichnov, a leading Ukrainian scientist specializing in Antarctic research. The scientist is a CCAMLR member representing Ukraine. Pshenichnov was detained in Kerch, where he lived with his family. The National Antarctic Scientific Center reports that Pshenichnov was accused of treason and causing economic damage to Russia.

Details: The National Antarctic Scientific Center believes the reason was Ukraine’s proposed initiative to create a Marine Protected Area (MPA) near the Antarctic Peninsula, in which Pshenichnov participated in development. The initiative is viewed by the Russian Federation as restricting commercial fishing and reducing control over a strategically important sector of the World Ocean.

Sources: Abc.net.au, National Antarctic Scientific Center.