Libyan law enforcers allow two Georgian sailors to return home after three-month exit ban
While in Libya the Georgian government provided the sailors with hotel accommodations, lawyers and all necessary conditions, the Georgian Foreign Ministry said.Photo: pri.org.
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Libyan law enforcers have allowed two Georgian sailors, Raul Takidze and Manuchar Kekelidze, to return to their homeland after a three-month exit ban related to the controversial death of another sailor David Razmadze back in January 2019 in the Libyan port of Misrata.
18 crew members of the ship were not allowed to leave Libya because of the investigation related to the death of David Razmadze. Yesterday, the law enforcers of Libya removed the ban on the Georgian citizens and they will return to the country this week,” the Georgian Foreign Ministry reported earlier today.
Georgian sailor David Razmadze went missing from the Turkish ship MV Dogan Bey in Libya while on night guard on January 7, 2019.
He was found dead by law enforcement officers on January 21 and was transported to Georgia on March 5.
The Georgian Foreign Ministry has responded to a briefing of the family members of two Georgian sailors who have been unable to leave Libya for two months, saying that the restriction is related to legal procedures and the death of another Georgian sailor back in January.
The Maritime Transport Agency of Georgia reports that 22-year-old Davit Razmadze, a Georgian sailor who disappeared from a ship in Libya on 7 January 2019, has been found dead. Director of the Maritime Transport Agency of Georgia Tamar Ioseliani says his body has been identified.
The lives and health of the sailors are not in danger and their condition is satisfactory, says Georgia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and announces that the ship is on its way to the port of Lome in the republic of Togo.
The ship “Pantelena IMO 9321469” sailing under a Panamanian flag with 17 Georgian sailors on board has been missing since August 14.
Two oil tankers were hit by explosions in Gulf of Oman today. 44 crew members including one Georgian citizen were safely rescued.
Georgian sailor Otar Vardidze, who was kidnapped with three foreign crew members by pirates from Greek-flagged tanker in the Africa’s Port of Lome, Togo Terminal on November 4 has been released today, Georgia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports.
Georgian seafarers can now be employed in Australian maritime industry as a relevant Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between the two countries.