Six Russian sailors and one Estonian who were being held hostage by Nigerian pirates were freed Thursday and are expected to fly home soon, the Foreign Ministry said.
The ministry said in a statement that the sailors, who were captured on Oct. 15 in a ship that serviced oil platforms off the southern coast of Nigeria, were in good health and being treated well.
In the statement, the ministry expressed gratitude to the authorities of four countries that assisted in an operation to free the sailors.
"Russia is grateful to its Nigerian, French, Luxembourgian and Estonian partners for their close cooperation and effective, coordinated actions, which allowed for a swift and safe rescue of the hostages," the statement said.
The Bourbon Liberty 249, owned by French oil services company Bourbon, was attacked by pirates on Oct. 15 in Nigerian territorial waters near the town of Brass.
The pirates took seven sailors hostage — the six Russians and one Estonian — while nine others managed to escape, RIA-Novosti reported.
Bourbon said no details regarding the rescue operation would be revealed, citing confidentiality and safety concerns, Interfax reported.
Related articles:
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
