Cyprus to unload and store Monchegorsk’s cargo

The Cyprus government has decided to unload and store the cargo of the Cypriot flagged ship Monchegorsk, said to have been carrying banned material in contravention of UN sanctions against Iran.

According to an official announcement, issued here today, “the Republic of Cyprus has already informed the President of the UN Security Council Sanctions Committee about its decision”.

“The storage of the cargo does not contain any kind of risk”, added in the announcement.

Monchegorsk, suspected of carrying banned material from Iran, docked at Limassol port early this morning, having been anchored near the port for the past two weeks.

A number of the ship’s containers, escorted by police, have already been transported to warehouses of the Cyprus National Guard, the Republic’s armed forces.

It has been alleged that the Cypriot-flagged ship, which originated from Iran, was carrying arms and it was forced by a US military vessel to anchor near Limassol port to have its cargo inspected, in order to establish whether there has been a breach of UN Security Council sanctions, as claimed.