MOSCOW, September 26 (RAPSI) – Investigation has been opened into an attack against a sea vessel and kidnapping of Russian citizens in the Gulf of Guinea, the Investigative Committee’s spokesperson Svetlana Petrenko has told journalists.

According to investigators, on August 15, unidentified persons attacked the vessel near the Republic of Cameroon. There were 8 people aboard the ship including 3 Russian crew members.

The assaulters forced the crew into leaving the ship and took them to an undisclosed location. The vessel crew members were released on September 22 after the illegal demands of the criminals were fulfilled, the statement of the Investigative Committee’s official reads.

The illegal actions were qualified by Russian investigators as kidnapping and piracy.