Situation with the Kazakhstani pilots in Thailand

Astana, December 15, 2009 (Khabar) - Bangkok’s Criminal Court approved the request of local authorities to impose a 12-day arrest of the crew of Il-76 plane where the arms were found. The crew of the aircraft consists of four Kazakhstani citizens and one Belarusian citizen, and they were arrested on December 12 in the capital of Thailand. During the search police found 35 tons of various weapons, including explosives and grenades on the board of aircraft. Now it is investigated to whom the armament belongs. The pilots argue that according to the documents they transported drilling installations and spare parts. According to the investigators, weapons on board of Il-76, were manufactured in North Korea, and the aircraft is registered in Georgia.

Kazakhstan will take all measures to return its pilots from Thailand home. This has been declared by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic.

Ilyas Omarov, head of press service of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of RK:
- At present the diplomatic mission of Kazakhstan in Bangkok works with the Thai side to protect the rights and interests of citizens of Kazakhstan.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Transport and Communications confirmed that the aircraft IL-76 belongs to the Georgian airline “Air West Georgia Ltd” and was leased by the New Zealand company for transportation of cargo. Kazakhstani pilot were just hired.

Radilbek Adimolda, chairman of the Committee on Civil Aviation of Ministry of Transport and Communications of RK:
- Our pilots work in East Wing airlines and were on leave without pay, we have no information how they were employed by Georgia's airline. In principle, the law doesn’t prohibit this and it is a worldwide practice.