Norway seeks extradition of rescued Russian yachtsman who ran aground in Scotland

Norwegian authorities have alleged a Russian businessman the Coastguard airlifted to safety stole the yacht he was sailing.

Norwegian authorities have requested extradition of a man they allege stole a yacht and sailed it to Scotland.

The UK Coastguard rescued Evgeny Dorofeev, 35, off the Isle of Tiree on Scotland’s west coast in February when the 40ft yacht he was sailing hit rocks near the Skerryvore lighthouse and began to sink.

The Coastguard sent out a helicopter to rescue the Russian and he was remanded to custody upon reaching shore.

Norway claims Dorofeev made an agreement with the company that owns the sunken yacht to test sail it on the condition that he did not leave Norwegian waters. The yacht is estimated to be worth £200,000.

Dorofeev has refused extradition and disputed the Norwegian claims, according to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.

A statement from the Crown Office said: “Following an extradition request, in connection with an alleged incident in Norway, Evgeny Dorofeev (DOB 24/04/1980) appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on 17 March for an initial hearing.

“He did not consent to extradition and was remanded in custody with a procedural hearing fixed for 7 April.

“As extradition proceedings are ongoing it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.”

At the Extradition Court in Edinburgh yesterday, Sheriff Norman McFadyen set a preliminary hearing for April 7, with a full hearing on May 12, 2016. Dorofeev remains in custody.

Dorofeev’s solicitor reportedly said the man was the manager of a large corporation in Russia and married with a wife and child.

February 18

A man who crashed a yacht off the Isle of Tiree on Scotland’s west coast and required rescue by the UK Coastguard has been arrested amid claims that he stole the yacht from Norway.

Police Scotland confirmed the man, reportedly a 35-year-old Russian businessman named Evgeny Dorofeev, had appeared at the Extradition Court in Ediburgh yesterday.

“We can confirm that a 35 year old man has been arrested and was detained in police custody in connection with an international arrest warrant.”

Norwegian authorities reportedly claimed Dorofeev was supposed to be taking the yacht for a test sail in Norwegian waters and made a request to bring the man back to Norway.

The yacht is reportedly worth £200,000 and Dorofeev’s solicitor reportedly said the man was the manager of a large corporation in Russia and married with a wife and child.

Dorofeev’s solicitor reportedly said the man did not consent to extradition.

On Tuesday, the RNLI launched their Islay lifeboat and a commercial vessel attended the scene where Dorfeev had run the yacht aground off Tiree, one of the Inner Hebrides isles some 22 miles west of the Scottish mainland. The man was taken on board the commercial vessel and the UK Coastguard search and rescue helicopter based at Prestwick later airlifted the yachtsman to safety.

17 February 2016

Just after midnight in the early hours of this morning, Wednesday 17 February, the UK Coastguard received a Mayday emergency call from a yacht which was in difficulties and had run aground near Skerryvore Light, near the Isle of Tiree.

A Mayday relay was broadcast by the Coastguard requesting assistance and a commercial cable laying vessel made its way to the area and provided some shelter from the weather.

The Islay RNLI all-weather lifeboat was tasked to the scene at 3.30am and attempted to secure a line to the stricken vessel. Barra RNLI Lifeboat also attended.

The UK Coastguard search and rescue helicopter based at Prestwick successfully airlifted the yachtsman to safety just after midday. He does not require any medical attention.

UK Coastguard maritime operations controller, Angus MacIver said: ‘The winds in the area were gusting at severe gale force with extremely rough seas which created a very testing environment in which this rescue could be carried out. The yachtsman is now being airlifted ashore and the RNLI lifeboats are returning to base.’

Story by Laura Hodgetts at PBO, updated by Jamey Bergman at YBW.