MOSCOW, March 11 (RIA Novosti) – Moscow welcomes a prisoner exchange to release Greek Orthodox nuns abducted from their monastery in Syria last year by al-Qaeda-linked militants, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.
Last December, 13 nuns and their three helpers were abducted from the monastery of Mar Thecla in the historic Christian town of Maaloula, 56 kilometers (35 miles) northeast of Damascus. Later, they were moved to the rebel-held town of Yabroud near the Lebanese border.
They were released Sunday as part of a hostage swap between the Syrian government and the Islamists. Syrian information minister Omran al-Zoubi said 25 female detainees suspected of aiding armed opposition groups were released in exchange for the nuns.
“Moscow welcomes the release of the Orthodox nuns… We appreciate the humane decision by the Syrian government and the efforts of the special services of Lebanon and Qatar who played an important role in this process,” the Russian ministry said in a statement.
The ministry called for the prompt release of other people held in captivity in Syria, including Russian traveler Konstantin Zhuravlyov and engineer Sergei Gorbunov.
