TBILISI, Georgia — Georgia's government said 15 Georgian and three Turkish sailors have been freed more than a year after their Greek-owned ship was captured by Somali pirates.
The office of Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said he spoke Monday with the captain, Memed Zakaradze, who reported that all the sailors were fine.
The sailors were taking the ship Olib from Egypt to India when it was captured by pirates on Sept. 8, 2010. The ship, which was sailing under a Maltese flag, was to be scrapped in India.
The Georgian government said it was involved in negotiating the sailors' release, but would give no details until the sailors were all safely home. The Georgian sailors were expected to arrive home Sunday.
(AP)
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
