Ukraine is claiming hundreds of its nationals are being investigated by the Greek authorities for their alleged role in people smuggling.

The country’s foreign ministry has said police in Italy and Greece have detained or investigated 250 Ukrainian sailors. State Secretary of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry Andriy Zayats made the claim at a briefing on the protection of the rights of Ukrainians who are imprisoned, detained or arrested abroad.

Earlier this year, Ukrainian media reported claims that Ukrainian nationals convicted and jailed in Greece for people smuggling, were receiving longer sentences than other nationalities imprisoned for the same offence.

The Ukrinform news site has reported that, as of June 30, over 10,000 Ukrainian citizens had been arrested or convicted for different types of crimes in different countries of the world.

Source: John Smith/greekreporter