10 January 2011, 15:00
Georgian Government monitors information on the sailors captured by pirates of Somali
Today the families of the Georgian sailors captured by pirates of Somali are holding an action of protest in front of the building of the Supreme Council of Adzharia in Batumi to draw Georgian Government’s attention to the hostages’ fates.
The Georgian Government, in its turn, refuses to contact Somali pirates although Georgian authorities monitor information on the captured sailors.
“We are only in contact with the shipping company for we have neither chance nor wish to negotiate with state terrorists”, Nino Kalandadze, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia declared at a press conference today, a reporter of “Caucasian Knot” informs.
A merchant vessel of Greek company Frio Ventures which was on a voyage to India was captured by Somali pirates of September, 8, 2010, in the Gulf of Aden. The crew of the ship consisted of 15 Georgian citizens and three Turkish sailors. The pirates demanded a ransom to the sum of one million dollars.
Georgian Government considers that it is the ship owner company that officially must pay the ransom.
“Lawyers hired by the Greek ship owner are participating in the negotiations with the pirates. The talks are confidential”, Anatoly Chikhavadze, Chairman of the Trade Union of Sailors reported.
Today Sergo Devadze, one of the captured sailors’ father, said that the sailors had been receiving no food or water at all for already five days. According to Devadze, the situation between the hostages and the pirates has become so tense that a conflict and human victims are possible.
Author: Beslan Khmuzov Source: CK correspondent
