FM confirms journalist Kochneva returns to Ukraine

The Foreign Ministry confirmed that journalist Anhar Kochneva, who was abducted near the Syrian city of Homs in October 2012 and escaped after 153 days of custody, had returned to Ukraine,according to ITAR TASS.

 “Anhar Kochneva returned to Ukraine on March 17. When she arrived at the Borispol airport she was contributed to accommodate in Kiev. Her condition is satisfactory,” the ministry’s press service reported.

When Kochneva was abducted in October 2012 “the Ukrainian authorities took measures to release the journalist”, the press service said.

The journalist is not planning to hold a press conference, it added.

Kochneva plans to publish a diary upon her arrival in Kiev next week.

Appearing on air of the Arab-language version of the television channel Russia Today, she said she had planned her escape for quite a time. “I began to develop health problems. I lost more than 20 kilograms. Apart from that, I had eye problems,” she said. In her words, she was kept in a locality, from where terrorists  were shelling the Syrian army and the latter was striking back. “My chances were scarce: either to simply die or to be killed in exchange of fire or by bandits,” she stressed. She said she had ventured to go outside early in the morning when the gunmen were sleeping.

 “I thought, if I meet a person who will lend whatever credence to me, I will ask this person for help. Maybe, I will promise him or her some money to have me hidden until I get in touch, say, with the Ukrainian embassy or with my friends in Syria and a special operation is organized to save me,” she noted. Luckily, the people she had encountered helped her to reach a territory under control of regular troops.

Kochneva told journalists in Damascus that she planned to arrive in Kiev in a week, and to visit Moscow. She plans to call a news conference and publish her diary highlighting her adventures in Syria. After receiving a passport in Kiev, she will go to Moscow, where her child is living.

 “I will continue my work. I must draw people’s attention to what is going on in Syria,” she emphasized.

M.D

You might also like
Latest news
Al Sheibani welcomes decision of Human Rights Council Civil delegations visit the city of Nawa to offer condolences to the martyrs families and community ... Turkey Warns Against Israeli Actions in Syria, Citing Risks to Regional Stability and Counterterrori... A protest in the city of Sweida condemning the Israeli attacks Minister al-Ali  discusses with Syrian doctors  in Germany ways to support the health sector Eid al-Fitr Initiative " a message of hope and love for children and families” The organization of Islamic Cooperation condemns the ongoing Israeli attacks on Syrian territory The health sector in Gaza is suffering a catastrophic situation Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry condemns Israeli attacks on Syria          Turkey holds Israel responsible for threatening regional security First phase of prisoner exchange deal between the government and the SDF completed Repeated Israeli raids on Syria receive wide condemnation Presidential Decree announcing the ministerial formation of the government of the Syrian Arab Republ... United Nations condemns repeated Israeli escalation in Syria Emmanuel Macron:Trump's tariffs are a shock to international trade Will Syria Be Affected by Trump’s Decision of imposing Tariffs Qatar calls for urgent international action to stop repeated Israeli raids on Syria Prisoner exchange between the Internal Security Directorate in Aleppo and the SDF involves 250 priso... Syrian doctors in Germany launch campaign to perform hundreds of surgeries in six Syrian provinces Delegation of Syrian Jews in Washington meet with members of US Congress, call for lifting sanctions...