MOSCOW, December 14 (RIA Novosti) - A Nigerian court convicted twelve Russian sailors on reduced charges of illegal crude oil possession Wednesday, but released them as part of a plea bargain.
The sailors, who were in the crew of Greek-owned ship MT African Pride, each received six-month suspended sentences on pleading guilty to illegally possessing oil.
They had spent nearly two years in pre-trial custody for alleged oil smuggling and economic sabotage after their ship was detained with a large volume of suspected stolen crude 31 miles off Nigeria's coast.
Prolonged delays in the sailors' trial prompted protests from the Russian government, and strained diplomatic relations with Nigeria.
In September the court released the sailors on bail, after diplomatic missions guaranteed they would attend their trial.
