The press release clarifies that there were three crew members and four passengers in the helicopter. At 18:20 Moscow time, the helicopter sent an emergency locator signal with coordinates, after which it stopped communicating, GDF reports. The search and rescue operation is being hampered by adverse conditions in the region, the Guyanese Army said.

On December 6, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro declared the Essequibo region, in which Arau is located, part of Venezuelan territory and called on the National Assembly of the Republic to pass a law to protect the disputed region. Guyanese President Irfaan Ali said his country is taking all steps necessary to defend against Venezuela.

On December 4, a referendum was held, as a result of which about 95% of Venezuelan citizens voted for the inclusion of Essequibo into the country. Guyanese President Irfaan Ali called the referendum a reason for Venezuela to annex the region.

On February 17, 1966, Venezuela and Guyana signed the Geneva Treaty. He made Guyana the successor to the British Empire in resolving territorial disputes in the region. In 1999, an arbitration court in Paris recognized the Essequibo territory as part of Guyana. The Guyanese authorities appealed to the International Court of Justice UNto obtain confirmation of this decision. The court ordered Venezuela not to take actions that would challenge Guyana’s control over the territory. However, the court did not prohibit the holding of a referendum.

Erdni Kagaltynov