13:18, 15 July 2008

Doctors Without Borders indignant with the need to share ransom paid for Aryan Erkel who was kidnapped in Dagestan

The medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders (also called Medecins Sans Frontieres - MSF) is shocked by the decision of the Federal Court of Switzerland to share the funds of the ransom paid for release Aryan Erkel, a citizen of the Netherlands and head of the MSF mission who had been kidnapped in Northern Caucasus.

"After four years of proceedings and two previous decisions in favour of the MSF, passed by the first instance court, and on results of the appeal, the Federal Court has passed a statement that is partially satisfying the claim of the Dutch government and ruled to share the ransom funds among two parties. This decision creates a dangerous precedent, which will tell negatively on the work of independent humanitarian missions in conflict zones," says the MSF statement.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported earlier that the Federal Court of Switzerland has obliged the MSF to pay 270,000 euros to the Dutch government for Aryan Erkel's liberation.