Georgian border police coast guards detained a Russian-flagged dry cargo vessel near Sarpi (Adjara) on Monday March 19, Novosti-Gruzia news agency reported quoting the police press service.

The Pur-Navolok was detained for violation of navigation rules, the police said. Sarpi is next to the Turkish border with Georgia.

The crew consists of ten sailors, all Russians. “The captain of the vessel, Russian citizen Yury Danilov faces preliminary investigation,” the border police said.

Georgia has detained foreign ships on previous occasions for putting into harbor in Abkhazia, a region it regards as its territory but Russia recognizes as independent, RIA Novosti said.