Last Updated: Wednesday, 31 May 2023, 15:44 GMT

Ukrainian hostage freed in Afghanistan

Publisher Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
Publication Date 29 August 2015
Cite as Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Ukrainian hostage freed in Afghanistan, 29 August 2015, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/561d03ce12.html [accessed 3 June 2023]
DisclaimerThis is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

August 29, 2015

By RFE/RL

Russia says a Ukrainian who was being held prisoner by Afghan militants has been freed.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on August 29 that Dmytro Bilyi had been freed "as a result of active efforts of the Russian authorities in close cooperation with the Afghan side."

She didn't give further details.

But she said Russia was "ready at any time" to hand Bilyi over to Ukrainian representatives in Afghanistan.

Earlier this month, Kyiv confirmed that Bilyi was being held hostage after he posted a video appeal on the Internet.

According to Ukrainian media, he had worked in Afghanistan for a construction company for 10 years.

With reporting by Reuters

Link to original story on RFE/RL website

Copyright notice: Copyright (c) 2007-2009. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036

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