ArmenPress
Dec 1 2004

ARMENIAN DIPLOMATS WORK TO SECURE THE RELEASE OF SIX PILOTS FROM
EQUATORIAL GUINEA’S PRISON

MALABO, DECEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS: Armenian foreign ministry said two
government officials who flew to Malabo, the capital of Equatorial
Guinea, to monitor the trial of a group of alleged mercenaries,
including six Armenian pilots, accused of being involved in a plot to
overthrow that country’s president are still in that West-African
state discussing with its authorities the possible ways to secure the
release of their country fellows, sentenced to lengthy prison terms.
In a statement after the verdict was announced the Armenian
ministry had said it will continue to make “every effort” to secure
the release of its citizens. The Guinean defense lawyer of the pilots
also said he would lodge an appeal against “the unfair verdict” with
the Supreme Court.
Captain Ashot Karapetian and five members of his aircrew were
sentenced to 24 and 14 years respectively. All of them pleaded not
guilty to the accusations.
“We are absolutely convinced that the Armenian pilots had nothing
to do with any action directed against Equatorial Guinea and its
government, and the court has not brought any compelling evidence
against them,” the Armenian foreign ministry said in a statement.
The ministry said the two Armenian diplomats, a former Armenian
ambassador to Egypt Sergey Manaserian and head of a government
division Gevork Petrosian were allowed to visit the jailed pilots.
The diplomats had already a meeting with Filiberto Entutumo, the
leader of the ruling party and will meet also with top officials of
that country’s foreign ministry to present the Armenian government’s
request to review the case of the pilots.
The diplomats are also maintaining everyday contacts with the
pilots’ lawyer, who has not yet been given the written decision of
the court in order to take the case to the Supreme Court.
Lawyers for South-African nationals as well as representatives of
the Amnesty International have not been either given the written
verdict.