Among those detained within the framework of the investigation launched in connection with the ship accident that resulted in the death of 8 people off the coast of Girne, Northern Cyprus, are three Azerbaijani citizens.
Modern.az reports, citing "Report", that these individuals are Valeh Humbatov, a resident of Palchigoba village in Khachmaz district, Rashad Ibrahimov, originally from Tartar and currently living in Baku, and Gadim Guliyev from Shabran district.
Valeh Humbatov's mother, Yegana Humbatova, told "Report" that she was able to speak to her son for the last time a few hours after the incident:
Valeh Humbatov
"I have one daughter and one son. My son Valeh Humbatov is 28 years old. He studied in Baku. It was his first time going to Turkey to work on a ship. Before that, he worked as a sailor on a cargo ship for 5 months. It had been a month since he transferred to a passenger ship. Both ships belong to the same company. He was supposed to return to the district this month."
Y.Humbatova stated that during the ship accident, her son briefly informed his fiancée that they were sinking:
"His fiancée informed us. A few hours after the accident, I called him, and he said that they were rescuing people and that he would call when he got ashore. We spoke very briefly once. After that, he spoke to his fiancée once and said that they were being taken into custody. After that, we haven't been able to contact him."
Turkan Tahmazova, the sister of another detained Azerbaijani citizen, Rashad Ibrahimov (born in 2006), told "Report" that her brother had gone to Northern Cyprus to work on a ship 20 days ago.
Rashad Ibrahimov
"Before this incident, we had only spoken via video call. On the day of the accident, my husband received a call from the company that hired him and was informed about the incident. That day was my sister's engagement, and that's why my husband didn't inform us about the incident."
T.Tahmazova noted that initially, information about a large number of deaths was mistakenly spread:
"My husband thought that my brother was also among those who drowned and that the company was not giving him accurate information. Later, my husband contacted the same company again and confirmed the information that my brother was alive. All of my brother's personal belongings, including his mobile phone, were lost. Later, my husband spoke to Rashad through the phone of another Azerbaijani crew member. He stated during the brief conversation that he was in the hospital."
T.Tahmazova stated that they learned about her brother's detention, like others, from social networks and saw her brother handcuffed.
"We spoke to the company that hired him, and they said that although the news of the arrest was correct, Rashad was not guilty in this matter, and it was simply a normal procedural rule due to the high number of casualties. Rashad has been provided with a lawyer, and we are in contact with him to get the latest news."
Nurat Guliyev, the brother of Gadim Guliyev, one of the three detained individuals, stated that they are currently unable to contact him:
Gadim Guliyev
"We are originally from Shabran and live in the district. My brother is 22 years old. We are 3 sons in the family, Gadim is the eldest, he is single. He has been working on the same ship since April, his position was a sailor. After the accident, he informed my mother and said that the ship had sunk, but they were alive. He stated that they were taken to give explanations."
A family member stated that the ship company where his brother worked contacted his father and said that there was no need to worry.
For information, a ship accident occurred off the coast of Girne, Northern Cyprus, on August 30. According to the latest information, 240 people were rescued as a result of the accident, 8 people died, and search and rescue operations are ongoing for 19 passengers.
