Fate of Georgian sailors captured by pirates is unknown for 3 months already, their relatives assert

10 sailors from Georgia, who were captured as hostages by Somali pirates almost 11 months ago, did not go on the air for a radio contact since April.

On September 8, 2010, in the Gulf of Aden Somali pirates seized tanker "Oilb G" under the flag of Malta. The vessel left the city of Alexandria and headed for India. It was planned to be delivered as scrap metal. 13 citizens of Georgia and three citizens of Turkey were aboard. Release of the hostages had already been postponed for several times. The last time the pirates scheduled the hostages' release to late May; however, till present, the sailors have not been released yet.

According to the statement of Levan Varshalomidze, Chairman the Council of Ministers of Adzharia, the negotiations for the release of hostages are continuing; however, it is not yet known, when the sailors will be able to return home.

During last three months the members of the sailors' families prefer not to speak before cameras about their situation and progress of the negotiations. In private conversations, the relatives state that the government of Adzharia prohibits them to communicate with journalists. Some relatives claim that the foreign lawyers, engaged in the release of the sailors, advise not to disclose the information not to annoy the pirates. The representatives of the company, which owns the vessel, also keep silence, the "Georgia Online" reports.

A sailor's wife in her interview to the "25 Channel" stated that they had no communication with the captives during the last three months, the "Trend" reports.