NEW DELHI: India criticized a European Parliament resolution Friday for calling the detention of two Italian marines for nearly three years without charge a violation of human rights.

The men were detained over the shooting of two Indian fishermen in February 2012 while on anti-piracy duty aboard an Italian cargo ship off the Indian coast. They have yet to be formally charged in the case, irritating ties between the two countries.

The European Parliament passed the resolution late Thursday calling the marines continued detention “a serious breach of human rights.”