A second group of seven sailors has been removed from the tanker Unity, arrested near the Indian port of Paradip. According to the Russian Consulate General in Kolkata, it included a citizen of Kazakhstan. There has been no report yet of his departure from India or arrival home. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.

The removal of the second group was reported to RIA Novosti by the girlfriend of one of the sailors. According to her, the sailors were taken off by a tugboat.

"Just now Oleg wrote to me that they had been removed from the vessel. The tugboat has already come up to them," she said.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry of Kazakhstan confirmed to Kazinform that preparations are under way for the Kazakhstani's return.

"It is expected that in the near future the Kazakhstani sailor from the crew of the vessel MT UNITY, detained in the Indian port of Paradip, will leave the vessel and be accommodated in a hotel. After that he will leave Indian territory," the Foreign Ministry said.

The ministry did not name the date of departure. Kazakh diplomats continue to provide him with consular assistance.

The first group of seven sailors has already returned home. The second included six Russians and one Kazakhstani. Another nine crew members — eight Russians and one Egyptian — are waiting for a replacement team, which the Indian side is selecting through a tender.

Earlier, Kursiv wrote that Unity has been under arrest near the port of Paradip since May 11 due to financial claims against the shipowner. In September, the Foreign Ministry of Kazakhstan sent a diplomatic note to the Indian side asking for help in returning the Kazakhstani sailor home.

On October 6, a court ordered the organization of the crew's return and replacement. The sailors were recognized as abandoned by the shipowner: they were not paid wages, were not provided with necessary supplies and were not sent home. Later the insurer repaid the debt and established supplies, but the crew remained on board.

On October 17, the sailors' relatives spoke about plans to sell the tanker. The families feared that the crew would have to wait for the deal to be completed. And on October 24, the vessel was towed closer to the shore ahead of an approaching storm. According to a relative of one of the sailors, Unity's engine was not working.

The return of the crew began in late October: the first seven sailors were disembarked from the tanker on October 29.