Three Azerbaijani nationals detained in probe into deadly shipwreck off Northern Cyprus

Three Azerbaijani nationals are among those detained as part of an investigation into a shipwreck off the coast of Girne, Northern Cyprus, that claimed eight lives.

Report learned that the detainees are Valeh Humbatov, a resident of Palchigoba village in Azerbaijan's Khachmaz district; Rashad Ibrahimov, originally from Tartar and currently residing in Baku; and Gadir Guliyev from Shabran district.

Yegana Humbatova, Valeh Humbatov's mother, told Report that she last spoke to her son several hours after the incident.

"I have a daughter and a son. My son, Valeh Humbatov, is 28 years old. He studied in Baku. It was his first time going to Türkiye to work on a ship. Previously, he had worked as a sailor on a cargo ship for five months. He had been working on a passenger ship for about a month. Both ships belong to the same company. He was supposed to return to the district this month," she said.

Humbatova said that during the shipwreck, her son briefly informed his fiancée that they were sinking.

"His fiancée informed us. I called him several hours after the accident. He said they were rescuing people and that he would call when he reached shore. We spoke very briefly once. After that, he spoke to his fiancée once and said they were being taken into custody. Since then, we have been unable to contact him," she said.

Turkan Tahmazova, sister of another detained Azerbaijani national, Rashad Ibrahimov, born in 2006, told Report that her brother had gone to Türkiye to work on a ship 20 days before the incident.

"Before this incident, we had only spoken to him by video call. On the day of the accident, the company that arranged his employment called my husband and informed him about the incident. It was my sister's engagement day, so my husband did not tell us about the incident that day," she said.

Tahmazova said that initial reports incorrectly indicated that a large number of people had died.

"My husband thought that my brother was among those who had drowned and that the company was not giving him accurate information. Later, my husband contacted the company again and confirmed that my brother was alive. All of my brother's personal belongings, including his mobile phone, were lost in the sinking. Later, my husband spoke to Rashad through the phone of another Azerbaijani crew member. During the brief conversation, he said he was in hospital," she said.

Tahmazova added that the family learned about her brother's detention through social media, like the families of the other detainees, and saw footage showing him handcuffed.

"We spoke to the company that arranged his employment. They said that although the reports of his detention were correct, Rashad was not guilty of anything and that this was a standard procedure due to the high number of fatalities. Rashad has been provided with a lawyer, and we are also in contact with him and receive the latest information from him," she said.

Nurad Guliyev, the brother of the third detained Azerbaijani national, Gadir Guliyev, said that the family is currently unable to contact him.

"We are originally from Shabran and live in the district. My brother is 22 years old. There are three sons in our family, and Gadir is the eldest. He is single. He has been working on the same ship since April as a sailor. After the accident, he informed our mother and said that the ship had sunk but that they were alive. He said they had been taken away to give statements," he said.

The family member said that the shipping company where his brother worked had contacted their father and told him there was no reason for concern.

A shipwreck occurred off the coast of Girne, Northern Cyprus, on August 30. According to the latest reports, 240 people have been rescued, eight people have died, and search and rescue operations are continuing for 19 passengers.