site.btaBulgarian Crew of Hijacked Ship Back Home after 14 Months

Two Bulgarian crew members of the hijacked Galaxy Leader, who were released by Yemen's Houthis on Wednesday after spending 14 months in captivity, returned home on Thursday. Captain Lyubomir Chanev and First Officer Danail Veselinov arrived at Sofia Airport from Muscat, Oman, and were welcomed by relatives.

Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev travelled to Muscat, Oman, to bring the Bulgarian sailors home aboard the government airplane which was sent by order of Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov.

The Galaxy Leader was seized by Houthis off the coast of Yemen in November 2023. The British-owned, Japanese-operated and Bahamas-flagged vessel had a crew of 25 from several countries, including the two Bulgarians. Efforts followed to have the crew members released. On January 22, the Houthi-owned Al Masirah TV reported, as quoted by Reuters, that Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis had released the crew and handed them to Oman "in coordination" with the three-day-old ceasefire in Gaza's war between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas. The information was later confirmed by the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry.

Chanev and Veselinov said the hijackers treated them well and did not hurt them. Both sailors told a briefing at Sofia Airport: "The hijackers treated us normally, providing us with the basic necessities for survival."

Lyubomir Chanev thanked his wife and children and his sister, Vesi Chaneva, who is celebrating her birthday on Friday, for the incredible efforts they made to get them back home and for staying strong. Chanev also thanked his parents, friends and relations. "Thank you, Bulgaria, for waiting and hoping for our return," he said.

Danail Veselinov also thanked his family: "You gave us strength and support through all these 14 months." He said: "The captors began untying us, gave us water and assured us that nothing would happen to us. The uncertainty and being away from our families were the hardest things they could do to us."

The Military Medical Academy where the sailors were admitted for thorough exams said the two are in visibly good condition. 

Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev told a briefing at the airport the most important thing was that the two Bulgarian crew members are alive and safe in Bulgaria, reunited with their loved ones, and that this moment feels deeply emotional and special.

"The efforts over the past 430 days, culminating in the past week, reflect the strength of the State and its institutions," Georgiev said. He added that unity and decisive action by these institutions made this major success possible. He noted that the focus was always on humanity, ensuring the sailors' safe return to Bulgaria.

MEP Elena Yoncheva told reporters: "The release of the sailors from the Galaxy Leader is the result of extraordinary efforts over the past year by all institutions." She added that this case demonstrates the State's ability to mobilize and take all necessary steps to assist Bulgarian citizens in distress anywhere in the world.

On September 19, 2024, Yoncheva visited Yemen to meet with the Bulgarian hostages. On November 4, she said on Facebook that there was a strong chance for them to go home, but an obstacle emerged at the last moment. Yoncheva noted at the time that she was still working for their release as a humanitarian mission of hers, part of her responsibilities as a member of the European Parliament, a journalist and a Bulgarian citizen who can help fellow Bulgarians.

The Council of Ministers' press office said a Romanian member of the released crew was aboard the plane. He was welcomed by the Romanian Ambassador in Sofia.

Officials, Intelligence Agency thank Oman

The Sultan of Oman Haitham bin Tariq Al Said received a letter of thanks from Bulgarian President Rumen Radev, Oman News Agency reported on Thursday. The letter was delivered by Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev and received by his Omani counterpart Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi.

The two ministers discussed the relations between their countries. Georgiev said he appreciated Oman's humanitarian and diplomatic role in addressing issues of peace and regional stability. He also praised the country's initiatives that led to the safe release of the ship's crew.

For his part, Albusaidi stressed the key role of diplomacy based on dialogue and mutual trust in promoting regional and international stability. He added that the Sultanate of Oman believes that effective dialogue and constructive diplomacy are the best way to achieve peace and to strengthen understanding among states and peoples.

The two ministers reiterated that Oman and Bulgaria share a common position that calls for peaceful solutions to address problems and conflicts in a way that contributes to maintaining security and stability.

State Intelligence Agency (SIA) Chief Antoan Gechev awarded the head of Oman's intelligence service with the agency's highest award, the Gold Star, for particularly great services related to national security, the SIA said Thursday. Oman's intelligence service, as an important strategic partner of the SIA in the region, played a key role in the negotiation process and the logistics of the release of the Bulgarian sailors, the SIA said.

The award was presented in Muscat in appreciation of the personal commitment of the head of the Omani intelligence service and his team in resolving issues of various nature over the past months leading to the release of the crew.

GERB, MRF - New Beginning leaders comment

GERB leader Boyko Borissov acknowledged the efforts of all who contributed to the release of the Bulgarian sailors.

MRF - New Beginning leader Delyan Peevski told reporters: "I think the institutions handled this problem very well, the Foreign Ministry worked very well, caretaker Prime Minister Glavchev worked very well, also Boyko Borissov helped, I did too. We were all together in this thing, but Elena Yoncheva did the big job."