Tweet
RIA Novosti, Russia
Dec 11 2004
POPE JOHN PAUL II MIGHT HELP ARMENIAN PILOTS CONVICTED IN EQUATORIAL
GUINEA
EREVAN, December 11 (RIA Novosti, Gamlet Matevosyan) - A human rights
representative in Armenia appealed to Pope John Paul II to help
Armenian pilots convicted in Equatorial Guinea.
According to Armenian Ombudsman Larisa Alaverdyan, 85% of the
population in Guinea are Catholics.
President of Guinea is supposed to meet with Pope John Paul II
shortly.
Ms. Alaverdyan told journalists that the international human rights
organization Amnesty International had also expressed concern about
the fate of Armenian pilots
We made an appeal to Amnesty International and received its consent
to provide assistance in organization of a visit to Equatorial Guinea
to conduct meetings with all authorized agencies that might influence
the situation," Ms. Alaverdyan said.
On November 26, the court of the capital of Equatorial Guinea,
Malabu, brought in a verdict on a coup d'etat case involving 6
Armenian pilots. The court sentenced the crew captain to 24 years of
imprisonment, and the rest of the crew - to 14 years each.
A South African citizen, accused of organizing the coup d'etat
attempt was sentenced to 63 years of imprisonment. Three other South
Africans received sentences varying from 50 to 60 years. Local
residents involved in the attempt received a year sentence each.
The court ordered to confiscate the plane used by the Armenians and a
fishing boat used by South Africans.
Six Armenian pilots worked since January 2004 in Equatorial Guinea
flying the An-12 transport plane registered in Armenia. On March 7,
Armenian pilots were arrested in Malabu. Equatorial Guinea
authorities accused Armenian pilots of participation in a coup d'etat
attempt as mercenaries and of espionage.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Dec 11 2004
POPE JOHN PAUL II MIGHT HELP ARMENIAN PILOTS CONVICTED IN EQUATORIAL
GUINEA
EREVAN, December 11 (RIA Novosti, Gamlet Matevosyan) - A human rights
representative in Armenia appealed to Pope John Paul II to help
Armenian pilots convicted in Equatorial Guinea.
According to Armenian Ombudsman Larisa Alaverdyan, 85% of the
population in Guinea are Catholics.
President of Guinea is supposed to meet with Pope John Paul II
shortly.
Ms. Alaverdyan told journalists that the international human rights
organization Amnesty International had also expressed concern about
the fate of Armenian pilots
We made an appeal to Amnesty International and received its consent
to provide assistance in organization of a visit to Equatorial Guinea
to conduct meetings with all authorized agencies that might influence
the situation," Ms. Alaverdyan said.
On November 26, the court of the capital of Equatorial Guinea,
Malabu, brought in a verdict on a coup d'etat case involving 6
Armenian pilots. The court sentenced the crew captain to 24 years of
imprisonment, and the rest of the crew - to 14 years each.
A South African citizen, accused of organizing the coup d'etat
attempt was sentenced to 63 years of imprisonment. Three other South
Africans received sentences varying from 50 to 60 years. Local
residents involved in the attempt received a year sentence each.
The court ordered to confiscate the plane used by the Armenians and a
fishing boat used by South Africans.
Six Armenian pilots worked since January 2004 in Equatorial Guinea
flying the An-12 transport plane registered in Armenia. On March 7,
Armenian pilots were arrested in Malabu. Equatorial Guinea
authorities accused Armenian pilots of participation in a coup d'etat
attempt as mercenaries and of espionage.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress