Government creates crisis cell on situation of Moldovan crew captured by Taliban

Chisinau, 25 November /MOLDPRES/- The government created a crisis cell at the level of the Foreign and European Integration Ministry on situation of Moldovan crew captured by the Taliban, acting Prime Minister Gheorghe Brega said after an emergency government meeting held today in the morning in connection with the incident in Afghanistan.

Brega noted that the diplomatic missions from Afghanistan, firstly, of the U.S.A. and Romania had been asked to help elucidate the fate of the captured crew.

 “At the moment, many things are unclear, but one is clear that 21 people out of whom three members of Moldovan crew were in private helicopter delivering services in Afghanistan under contract with other private companies. The helicopter was likely shot down by the Taliban in a region where there were many Kirghiz and Tajik people. All passengers were alive at landing. The Taliban people attacked them and killed three persons”, he said. The official added that it was supposed one of those dead was citizen of Moldova.

The Foreign and European Integration Ministry gave instructions to the Moldovan Permanent Mission to the United Nations to urgently get official information on the three Moldovans, crew members of the helicopter captured in the country. Public opinion will be informed later on the actions.

The helicopter belonged to the Valan International Cargo Charter company, specialized in organizing air traffic, air transport services for passengers and freight, technical assistance and repair of aircrafts. The company operates with Mi-8 MTV-1 and AN-26-100 aircrafts. It participated in more international missions, including in Afghanistan and Iraq, performing flights under the aegis of United Nations.

The incident took place in Faryab province, a region controlled by the Taliban.

(Reporter V. Bercu, editor L. Alcază)