Nazran, Russia; 5 February 2001 (RFE/RL) -- U.S. aid worker Kenneth Gluck, who was freed from captivity in Chechnya at the weekend, today left the breakaway republic. A spokesman for the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) said on condition of anonymity that Gluck, head of Doctors Without Borders mission for the region, flew by helicopter to a Russian military base in Mozdok, in the neighboring republic of North Ossetia. He said Gluck would then be sent to Nazran in Ingushetia, to meet with colleagues.
Yesterday, Gluck said he was not subject to ill treatment during his captivity of nearly a month at the hands of gunmen: "I was rather well-treated. I was not beaten. I was not touched. Nothing. And now I will be happy to go home."
Walter Schwimmer, the secretary-general of the Council of Europe, today in Strasbourg welcomed Gluck's release. Schwimmer also appealed to all humanitarian organizations to resume without delay their assistance to the people in Chechnya.
(For more details on this story please see: Russia: After Gluck's Release, Agencies Wary Of Resuming Chechnya Aid.
Yesterday, Gluck said he was not subject to ill treatment during his captivity of nearly a month at the hands of gunmen: "I was rather well-treated. I was not beaten. I was not touched. Nothing. And now I will be happy to go home."
Walter Schwimmer, the secretary-general of the Council of Europe, today in Strasbourg welcomed Gluck's release. Schwimmer also appealed to all humanitarian organizations to resume without delay their assistance to the people in Chechnya.
(For more details on this story please see: Russia: After Gluck's Release, Agencies Wary Of Resuming Chechnya Aid.