North Cyprus court extends arrest for three Azerbaijanis in shipwreck case

A court in Northern Cyprus has extended the detention of nine people, including three Azerbaijani citizens, by a further seven days as part of an investigation into a shipwreck off the coast of Girne.

Orhan Hasanoglu, Chairman of the Azerbaijan–Cyprus Friendship Society, said no separate charges have been brought against the Azerbaijani crew members — Rashad Ibrahimov, Gadir Guliyev and Valeh Humbatov — during the latest court hearing, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

The detainees are being investigated on suspicion of causing death through negligence.

“Azerbaijani citizens should be questioned not as suspects, but as direct witnesses to the tragedy. It must be taken into account that they did not have the primary authority to make decisions concerning the operation of the vessel, its technical condition or its seaworthiness,” Hasanoglu noted.

According to him, unlike other responsible persons, the Azerbaijani crew members left the vessel at the final stage of the incident and risked their lives to help passengers.

“Their conduct during the incident and their attempts to help passengers must be comprehensively assessed during the investigation,” he stressed.

Hasanoglu further stated that the police investigative team had collected around 300 statements since the tragedy.

He assured that every available avenue would be used to protect the rights of the detained Azerbaijani citizens.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov