The detention period has been extended for citizens of Azerbaijan arrested in connection with the shipwreck in Northern Cyprus

A court in Northern Cyprus has extended the detention of nine individuals, including three Azerbaijani citizens, for another seven days as part of the investigation into the shipwreck off the coast of the city of Girne.

This was stated to Report by Orkhan Hasanoglu, chairman of the Azerbaijan-Cyprus Friendship Society.

According to him, during the latest court hearing, no separate charges were brought against the crew members - Azerbaijani citizens Rashad Ibrahimov, Gadir Guliyev, and Valekh Gumbatov.

The detainees are being investigated in a case of causing death by negligence.

"The Azerbaijani citizens should be questioned not as suspects, but as direct witnesses of the tragedy. It should be taken into account that they did not hold primary decision-making authority related to the operation of the vessel, its technical condition, and seaworthiness," Hasanoglu stated.

According to him, the Azerbaijani crew members, unlike other responsible individuals, left the vessel at the last stage and, risking their own lives, helped the passengers.

"Their behavior during the incident and their attempts to help the passengers should be thoroughly evaluated during the investigation," he emphasized.

Hasanoglu also reported that since the tragedy, the police investigation team has obtained approximately 300 statements.

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

It should be noted that the double-decker high-speed catamaran with two fiberglass hulls was traveling from the city of Girne to the Turkish port of Taşucu in the Silifke municipality of Mersin province. Shortly after heading into open sea, the ferry began taking on water, capsized, and sank. There were 267 people on board the catamaran, and 239 passengers were rescued.