EQUATORIAL GUINEA’S AMBASSADOR, IN CONNECTION WITH INCIDENT WITH
ARMENIAN PILOTS, ADVISES TO CHOOSE EMPLOYERS MORE CAREFULLY
YEREVAN, June 11. /ARKA/. Equatorial Guinea’s Ambassador to Russia
Fausto Abesso Fuma advised those visiting the country to choose
employers more carefully, he said Friday at a press conference focused
on Armenian pilots release from jail in Equatorial Guinea, where they
had been taken for their alleged complicity in coup attempt. According
to RIA Novosti, he said the Armenian pilots had been used for
Equatorial Guinea’s interior political conflicts solution.
“This isn’t their guilt, they have been used to commit coup in the
country. They even had no idea about that”, the Ambassador said. In
his words, those coming to the country for jobs are ill-informed about
the situation in the country. “That’s why I don’t rule out that
tomorrow Belarusian or Moldovan pilots can find themselves in the same
situation their Armenian colleagues face today”, the diplomat said.
Six Armenian pilots have been working in Equatorial Guinea on board of
An-12 aircraft registered in Armenia since January 2004. In March
2004, they were taken in police custody on charge of complicity in
coup attempt and espionage.
On Nov 26, 204, Malabo city’s court sentenced the crew commander to 24
years in jail and the rest members of the crew to 14 years. Armenian
pilots have performed only one flight to Congo before being jailed. In
June 2005, Equatorial Guinean President granted forgiveness to the
arrested. M.V. -0–