Captain Lyubomir Chanev and his senior assistant Danail Veselinov, as well as sailors of other nationalities, spent more than a year in captivity.
"The Supreme Council of the Houthis announced the release of the crew of the Galaxy Leader, who were detained on November 19, 2023 during the campaign of solidarity with Gaza", the rebel news agency Saba reported, adding that the release took place "in support of the ceasefire" in Gaza.
The Bulgarian government plane is in the capital of Oman, where it will welcome our sailors and return them to their homeland. Our Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev, the President's Security Secretary Dimitar Stoyanov and the MEP Elena Yoncheva are also there.
This afternoon, Lyubomir and Danail will be home after more than a year in captivity. I spoke with them last night. They are in good condition and are waiting to hug their relatives," he told in "The Day Begins" MEP Elena Yoncheva.
"My previous meeting with them in September, I hope, gave them hope that their release is possible and that Bulgaria has not abandoned them", added Yoncheva.
The answer to the question of what efforts the Ministry of Foreign Affairs made for the release of the Bulgarian sailors is multifaceted, said Yoncheva.
"The cause of the release of the Bulgarians has shown that Bulgaria has not forgotten and will never forget compatriots in trouble, regardless of where in the world they are".