The Russian Ambassador, Mr. Mihail Kalinin, has confirmed that the Russian warship, Admiral Tributs, is coming to Seychelles from March 1-5, 2012 to take part in the Carnaval International de Victoria.

Admiral Tributs has 332 sailors on board, with Captain 1 Rank Ildar Akhmerov as the Senior Commander of the mission and Captain 2 Rank Dmitry Pashenyuk the Commander of the warship.

The large anti-submarine warship, Admiral Tributs, was last in Seychelles in October 2009. It is expected that the ship will be open for public-guided excursions on board.

Last year it was Admiral Vinogradov, the destroyer, that participated in the first edition of Carnaval International de Victoria.

Admiral Tributs is coming to Seychelles after completion of a patrolling mission along the Somalia coast and in the Gulf of Aden. They will take part in the carnival procession, and in so doing, demonstrate solidarity with the countries of the region and with the Seychellois people in their fight against piracy.

Speaking to the press after hearing the confirmation that the Russian navy ship would be heading for Seychelles to be part of the 2012 Carnival, Alain St.Ange, CEO of the Seychelles Tourism Board, said that Seychelles was delighted that Russia had heard their appeal for a show of solidarity against the plague of piracy in the Indian Ocean and off the Coast of Africa.

“We say thank you to Russia for hearing our appeal. We are happy with the news that a ship with 332 sailors will be in Port Victoria for the duration of our carnival. It is only working together and being seen together as the Community of Nations that we can send the right message to the “machine” behind the pirates that the world at large is tired of them,” Alain St.Ange said.