Relatives of Bulgarian Sailors from Hijacked Galaxy Leader Ship Meet PM Dimitar Glavchev

Jerusalem, 25 April, 2024 (TPS) -- SOFIA (BTA) Bulgarian Caretaker Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev and Deputy Foreign Minister Ivan Kondov met with relatives of the Bulgarian sailors from the hijacked ship Galaxy Leader on Thursday, the press service of the caretaker Cabinet said.

Glavchev assured that not even for a day did the institutions stop looking for opportunities for the release of the Bulgarian sailors. “We will continue to make efforts, our actions are very careful, we are looking for all options for the release of people. The case is not forgotten,” said the Prime Minister.

On his part, Deputy Minister Kondov promised that the relatives of the sailors would be regularly informed about the development of the situation. During the meeting, he reported that there is a working group on the subject in the Foreign Ministry. “Every single Bulgarian citizen is important to us, be sure that we are actively working for the sailors to return home soon,” added caretaker Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev.

The Galaxy Leader ship was hijacked in the Red Sea on November 19, 2023. The Bulgarian government and all competent institutions will continue to work actively on the case of the kidnapped Bulgarian citizens for their release and safe return to Bulgaria, assured the Foreign Ministry.

In a telephone conversation with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, the Bulgarian President Rumen Radev called on the PA to provide support for the release of the Bulgarian sailors from the ship.

The case of the Bulgarians abducted by the Houthis will be at the attention of the European Parliament this week. In a resolution to be voted on in the plenary hall in Strasbourg, it is requested that the EU be actively involved in the efforts for the quick and safe release of the European citizens part of the crew of the ship Galaxy Leader, which has been detained for five months in Red Sea. The captain and the first mate are Bulgarian citizensthere is also a Romanian citizen among the sailors. The initiative for the resolution belongs to MEP Elena Yoncheva.

On March 16, the crew of the Rouen ship, which was hijacked on December 14, 2023, including seven Bulgarians, was released with the help of the Indian Navy, said the then Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Maria Gabriel. The Rouen ship was captured by pirates in the Arabian Sea.