According to Armenian Ombudsman Larisa Alaverdyan, 85% of the population in Guinea are Catholics.
President of Guinea is supposed to meet with Pope John Paul II shortly.
Ms. Alaverdyan told journalists that the international human rights organization Amnesty International had also expressed concern about the fate of Armenian pilots
We made an appeal to Amnesty International and received its consent to provide assistance in organization of a visit to Equatorial Guinea to conduct meetings with all authorized agencies that might influence the situation," Ms. Alaverdyan said.
On November 26, the court of the capital of Equatorial Guinea, Malabu, brought in a verdict on a coup d'etat case involving 6 Armenian pilots. The court sentenced the crew captain to 24 years of imprisonment, and the rest of the crew - to 14 years each.
A South African citizen, accused of organizing the coup d'etat attempt was sentenced to 63 years of imprisonment. Three other South Africans received sentences varying from 50 to 60 years. Local residents involved in the attempt received a year sentence each.
The court ordered to confiscate the plane used by the Armenians and a fishing boat used by South Africans.
Six Armenian pilots worked since January 2004 in Equatorial Guinea flying the An-12 transport plane registered in Armenia. On March 7, Armenian pilots were arrested in Malabu. Equatorial Guinea authorities accused Armenian pilots of participation in a coup d'etat attempt as mercenaries and of espionage.
