17:36, 29 May 2004

Erkel's freedom cost 1 million euros

The Dutch Foreign Ministry has unexpectedly announced that a ransom of 1 million euros was paid for Arjan Erkel, who was released in early April in Dagestan.

The Russian authorities claimed earlier that the release of the head of the Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) mission had become possible due to a special operation conducted by the Interior Ministry jointly with the Federal Security Service. And now it has turned out that the bandits were given the ransom though both Russia and MSF representatives denied it earlier.

The organization was not able to collect the requested sum and turned to the government for help, the Dutch ministry's official said. With all this going on, it remains unknown so far who exactly abducted Mr Erkel and then took possession of 1 million euros.

33-year-old Arjan Erkel was abducted in Makhachkala on August 12, 2002. He spent a year and a half as a hostage. After his release in April, he returned to his homeland, to the Netherlands.

Editors note: See also the article "Head of MSF mission in Dagestan released".

Source: RosBusinessConsulting News Agency