Rear Admiral Vasily Lyashok, the deputy commander of the Main Staff of the Russian navy, met President James Michel at State House yesterday.

Rear Admiral Lyashok was accompanied by a high-level delegation and the Russian ambassador in Victoria, Mr Mikhail Kalinin.

Their meeting with the President coincided with the arrival in Port Victoria of the Russian anti-submarine warship, the Admiral Panteleev.

The delegation has been holding talks with Seychellois authorities as part of coordination efforts to establish procedures for calls by warships of the Russian Federation to Port Victoria.

An agreement is expected to be finalized this week, and according to the Russian delegation, it would provide favourable conditions for their warships to operate in the Indian Ocean as part of the international anti-piracy effort.