Azerbaijani embassy in India: Azerbaijani seamen on arrested vessel can return home

“Representatives of the embassy contacted the captain of a Turkish vessel and Azerbaijanis on the board. We learned that the vessel and crew have no problem with the Indian side. But the vessel can not return to Turkey as minor violations were found on the vessel during technical inspection in the Indian port. So, port will not be able to give them permission to access to the sea until violations are removed,” he said.

A vessel owned by Turkish ECE A Tanker Grup has been arrested on the Indian coast. The crew of the Turkey-flagged vessel includes 5 Azerbaijanis, 10 Turkish and 1 Georgian.

“With regard to 5 Azerbaijanis on board, they do not have passports. The passport are now held by owners of the company which owns the vessel. The company promised to send the passport as soon as the vessel arrives in India. But they have not sent passports and have not pay salaries for three months. Azerbaijanis, who are on board, had been granted a visa to Turkey for 3 months, but the deadline expired. Therefore, they can not return to Turkey with an expired visa,” he said.

“All Azerbaijanis have seaman’s passport. With this document they can safely leave the vessel and return home. But they are not yet resolved to do so. They hope to receive salary and a passport. But they can leave the vessel anytime they want,” the attache said.

“Azerbaijani embassy in India contacts them every day.  We are ready to provide any assistance to our citizens and send them to homeland,” he said.

/Day.Az/