site.btaPresident Radev: Galaxy Leader Case Could Not Have Been Resolved Without Oman’s Decisive Role

"The case of the Galaxy Leader ship could not have been resolved, nor could our compatriots have returned safely to their families, without the decisive role of the Sultanate of Oman," President Rumen Radev said on Friday. The Head of State awarded the Honorary Sign of the President to the Omani Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, during a ceremony held in the Coat of Arms Hall at the President's Administration.

The award recognizes the Minister’s key role in the release of the detained crew of the Galaxy Leader and Oman’s overall contribution to peace and stability in the Middle East.

The President expressed his "sincere gratitude and deep appreciation on behalf of the Bulgarian people" to the two Bulgarian sailors from the ship and their families, who were present at the ceremony, "for their moral engagement and personal contribution to the release of the entire crew."

"You are paving the way for the restoration of a dynamic and intensive bilateral exchange that fully reflects the ambitions and potential for cooperation between our two friendly countries. I will also rely on your personal assistance and support in organizing a future visit by the Sultan of Oman," Radev told the Minister.

Bulgaria highly values Oman’s important role in de-escalating tensions and promoting stability in the Middle East. "We closely follow Oman’s efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace through constructive dialogue and active diplomacy in this neighboring and vital region for Bulgaria," said Radev.

The Omani Minister of Foreign Affairs is on an official visit to Bulgaria at the invitation of Bulgarian Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev. This marks the first-ever visit by an Omani foreign minister to Bulgaria in the history of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The Galaxy Leader, a Bahamas-flagged vessel, was hijacked by Houthis off the Yemeni Red Sea coast in November 2023. The sailors, including two Bulgarian nationals, were released more than a year later, in January 2025.