Helsinki Court Jails Fitburg Captain and Azerbaijani Boatswain Over Undersea Cable Damage

The Helsinki District Court in Finland has sentenced two crew members of the cargo vessel Fitburg to prison terms for their involvement in the severing of subsea infrastructure in the Gulf of Finland.

According to Finnish broadcaster Yle, the vessel's captain, Russian national Andrey Maksimenko, received a sentence of three years and six months, while the boatswain, Azerbaijani citizen Vusal Majidov, was handed two years and ten months. The court convicted both defendants of aggravated mischief and ordered their immediate remand in custody. They were also mandated to jointly indemnify the affected operators for costs incurred from repairing the telecommunication cables, servicing the gas pipeline, and conducting damage-assessment surveys. The ruling is subject to appeal before entering into full legal effect.

The Fitburg was detained by Finnish maritime authorities on December 31, 2025. Investigators determined that the vessel dragged its anchor across the seabed over an extensive distance, severing two submarine communication cables. Both Majidov and Maksimenko maintained their innocence throughout the trial.