From: Justin Burke (JBurke@sorosny.org)
Date: Mon Aug 14 2000 - 11:21:51 EDT
ABDUCTED RED CROSS WORKERS RELEASED IN GEORGIA
The three Red Cross workers abducted in Georgia's Pankisi gorge on 4 August
were released unharmed early on 13 August. Former Georgian
parliamentary deputy Mamuka Areshidze, who negotiated with
the abductors, said they had agreed to release their captives
without any ransom payment in exchange for guarantees that
the criminal case opened against them will be shelved,
according to "The Independent" on 14 August. Georgian
authorities have not disclosed the identity or nationality of
the hostage-takers, but AP quoted Italian Ambassador to
Georgia, Michelangelo Pipan as saying that they "were not
Chechen rebels but in all probability common criminals." The
persons responsible for two earlier abductions of UN
observers in western Georgia have likewise never been
identified or apprehended. LF
|
