Podcast in English
Audio Player
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

MEP Elena Yoncheva is in Yemen in an effort to reach the Bulgarians from the hijacked ship Galaxy Leader

Photo: facebook.com/YonchevaElena

MEP Elena Yoncheva is in the city of Sanaa, Yemen, aiming to reach the port city of Hodeidah on the Red Sea. There lies the hijacked ship Galaxy Leader, where Captain Lyubomir Chanev and Chief Mate Danail Veselinov are being held by the Houthi rebels. The two Bulgarian nationals are part of the crew of Galaxy Leader which was hijacked on November 19, 2023.

''This is a humanitarian mission supported logistically by the UN, to meet with Lyubomir and Danail and to learn more about the situation. Their families have not seen them for ten months and are extremely worried. Until now, no European politician has managed to meet with them or the crew, which includes three EU citizens. Meeting with the Bulgarian sailors will give hope to their loved ones that they are not abandoned and that the process of their release is close", said Elena Yoncheva.

Before becoming an MEP, Elena Yoncheva was a journalist known for her reports from some of the world's hottest spots, including conflicts in Kosovo, Algeria, Chechnya, Israel, Afghanistan, Iraq, Venezuela, Colombia, etc.




Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Week starts with snow and freezing temperatures

On Monday there will be snow showers or a mix of rain and snow in many places. The precipitation will decrease and stop, and the clouds will clear in the evening. The minimum temperature will be minus 3°C, around minus 1°C in Sofia, and the maximum will..

published on 4/6/25 6:05 PM

After the fire: Emergency break for students at the National School of Applied Arts in Tryavna

After a fire destroyed the roof of the historic National High School of Applied Arts in Tryavna  on Friday morning, students are taking a week-long emergency break. With the help of the fire brigade, civil protection teams and local businesses, the..

published on 4/6/25 5:33 PM

Police continue large-scale inspections of dangerous road sections

The large-scale inspection, carried out by the competent police structures of the National Police Directorate and the regional directorates of the Interior Ministry, will continue next week to get the full picture - where, what and how many are the..

published on 4/6/25 4:01 PM