DUSHANBE, February 7, Asia-Plus — Three Ukrainian nationals who were being held hostage in Dushanbe have been released, Ukrainian Ambassador to Tajikistan, Mr. Viktor Nikityuk, told Asia-Plus in an interview.
According to him, the names of the criminals are not disclosed in the interest of investigation. Ambassador Nikityuk refrained from giving further details of the incident.
“I just can say that the freed Ukrainian nationals are now in good health conditions,” Ukrainian diplomat noted.
According to a statement released by the Ukrainian MFA, the criminals demanded a ransom of 100,000 USD for the release of hostages.
According to KyivPost, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has reported that three Ukrainian citizens, who were taken hostage by unidentified persons in Dushanbe (Tajikistan), have been freed.
A statement released by the Ukrainian MFA on Tuesday, in particular, says, “Ukraine”s diplomatic office in Uzbekistan learned about the seizure of hostages on January 27 this year. The criminals demanded a ransom of $100,000 for the release of our compatriots.” According to the Ukrainian Embassy in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, the Tajik authorities promptly took measures to establish the location of hostages and release them, the statement noted.
“A special unit of the Tajik Interior Ministry conducted an operation on January 31 this year, and the Ukrainian citizens were released,” the statement said.
The Foreign Ministry added that the Tajik law enforcement authorities had instituted criminal proceedings and that the investigation was underway. The consular service department of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry and the Ukrainian Embassy in Tajikistan are overseeing the case.
