15 Georgian and 3 Turkish nationals have been released by Somali pirates after ransoms were paid. There are now being taken to Kenya, News Georgia reports.
They spent a year and 4 months as captives in Somalia. They are in a satisfactory heath condition, reports say.
The Georgian MV OLIB G commercial vessel was sailing under the Maltese flag carrying scrap metal. It was captured by Somali pirates on September 8, 2010. They sent a video in November 2011. The government failed to collect enough cash to pay the ransom. The pirates demanded $15 million.
The pirates published the first photos of captives in October, demanding $9 million. Family members of the Georgian captives sent a letter to Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili requesting his personal assistance in saving the men.
