RUSSIA: MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES ACCUSES RUSSIA OF BLOCKING RELEASE OF KIDNAPPED DUTCH AID WORKER.

Record ID: 649087

  • Title: RUSSIA: MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES ACCUSES RUSSIA OF BLOCKING RELEASE OF KIDNAPPED DUTCH AID WORKER.
  • Date: 19th March 2004
  • Summary: (EU) MOSCOW, RUSSIA (MARCH 18, 2004) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. BRIEFING GIVEN BY MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES OFFICIALS AT MOSCOW'S EKHO MOSKVY RADIO STATION 2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) MSF SWITZERLAND'S THOMAS NIERLE SAYING: "I think we may confirm that Arjan Erkel who has been abducted more than 19 months ago is still missing and we have a very strong suspicion that at least the Russian authorities are co-responsible for the prolonged detention of Arjan Erkel." 3. CUTAWAY JOURNALISTS 4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) MSF SWITZERLAND'S THOMAS NIERLE SAYING: "Arjan seems to be a bargaining chip in a power struggle on a regional level, and the Russians prefer just to let it go." 5. JOURNALISTS 6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) MSF SWITZERLAND'S THOMAS NIERLE SAYING: "I do not think the (Russian) security services are incapable, they are some of the most capable in the world when they want to be. What is missing is conviction and commitment." 1.32 (EU) MOSCOW, RUSSIA (FILE - AUGUST 2003) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 7. VARIOUS OF PROTEST BY MSF WORKERS AND OFFICIALS IN MOSCOW OUTSIDE HEADQUARTERS OF RUSSIA'S FSB (FEDERAL SECURITY BUREAU) ON FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF KIDNAPPING OF DUTCH CITIZEN ARJAN ERKEL 8. POSTERS WITH ERKEL'S PHOTOGRAPH 2.09 (EU) CHECHNYA-DAGESTAN BORDER AREA, RUSSIA (FILE) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 9. CHECHEN REFUGEES TRYING TO CROSS INTO DAGESTAN/ BORDER GUARDS AT BORDER 10. CHECHEN REFUGEE WOMAN CRYING 11. VARIOUS OF REFUGEES IN CAMP ON DAGESTAN SIDE OF THE BORDER 2.59 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 3rd April 2004 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: MOSCOW, RUSSIA/ CHECHNYA-DAGESTAN BORDER AREA, RUSSIA
  • Country: Russia
  • Reuters ID: LVA130FPOPDAEDHMDJ7J8PHZ816F
  • Story Text: MSF accuses Russia of blocking release of a Dutch
    aid worker kidnapped near Chechnya 19 months ago.



    Humanitarian group Medecins Sans Frontieres accused
    Russia on Thursday (March 18) of blocking the release of an
    aid worker kidnapped near Chechnya 19 months ago.

    Officials in Dagestan, a lawless southern Russian
    region where gunmen snatched Dutch citizen Arjan Erkel in
    broad daylight in August 2002, denied the accusation.

    MSF officials said Russia's failure to secure Erkel's
    release could not be explained by mere ineptitude.

    "It is clear that this investigation has been hampered
    every step of the way. It appears that they are more
    interested in a cover-up than solving the case," said
    Thomas Nierle, director of operations at MSF's Swiss
    branch.

    "Arjan seems to be a bargaining chip in a power
    struggle on a regional level, and the Russians prefer just
    to let it go."
    Kidnappings are rife in the Caucasus where Russia has
    been battling rebels in Chechnya for nine years. Chechen
    President Akhmad Kadyrov said on Thursday around 3,000
    people were registered as missing in his war-shattered
    region. Erkel is the only Westerner in captivity.

    MSF said the fact Russian security officers had
    witnessed his abduction without intervening, and then
    failed to follow up key evidence supplied by the group,
    showed the security services had no interest in releasing
    the 34-year-old.

    "I do not think the security services are incapable,
    they are some of the most capable in the world when they
    want to be. What is missing is conviction and commitment,"
    said Nierle.

    Officials in Dagestan called the MSF allegation
    "hostile".

    MOS/JRC


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