HEAD OF UNION OF ARMENIANS OF RUSSIA TO PARTICIPATE IN PROCESS OF
RELEASE OF RUSSIAN SAILORS ARRESTED IN NIGERIA
MOSCOW, AUGUST 24. ARMINFO. Head of the Union of Armenians of Russia,
UN Good Will Ambassador Ara Abrahamyan will participate in the process
of release of Russian sailors arrested in Nigeria. According to
Gazeta.ru, today Ara Abrahamyan leaves for Nigeria on a special
mission.
According to the source, it is expected that his personal ties and the
previous experience of dealing with African governments will help
achieving release of 11 Russian sailors from custody. The sailors of
African Pride vessel have been kept at an African prison for two years
already charged with contraband. On August 5 the Nigerian court made a
decision that the Russians can be released under pledge and warranty
of the Russian Embassy. The source does not rule out that the tactics
used when releasing the Armenian pilots from the prison in Equatorial
Guinea will be used.
The Armenian pilots working in that country on AH12 plane registered
in Armenia were imprisoned charged with attempted state coup and
espionage. Malabo Court sentenced the crew commander to 24 and the
pilots to 14 years of imprisonment. They were kept in the prison one
year and then were granted amnesty by the president of that
country. Before release of the pilots Ara Abrahamyan visited
Equatorial Guinea. According to some data, he was empowered by the
Armenian Government to undertake some social and economic and
financial commitments to that country. After the commitments were
fulfilled, the Armenian pilots were released. What was the cost of
their released remained unknown, Gazeta.ru writes.