The Director of Foreign Relations of the Ministry of Transport, Eliana Salazar, explained in an interview with local radio that the crew members, who have not been charged, will be heard and will have the possibility of defending themselves in court.

She stressed that “there are no charges, there are no crimes” and the crew of 14 Venezuelans and five Iranians is expected to be released.

Salazar insisted on the innocence of the men and women, kidnapped by the Argentinian justice, according to Venezuelan authorities, because after their passports were returned “they demonstrated that they had no intention to escape.”

She remarked that the legal actions undertaken by her country to recover the aircraft continue, and denounced the unfavorable impact of its retention on tourism, in addition to the expenses for the State.

On Tuesday, the Venezuelan Minister of People’s Power for Foreign Affairs, Carlos Faria, demanded the release of the aircraft and its crew.

abo/mv/jcd