2 Russians kidnapped in Darfur

Two Russian nationals were abducted in Sudan’s Darfur region on January 29, Russia’s embassy in the Republic of Sudan told TASS news agency.
Earlier, the Sudanese authorities reported kidnapping of two foreigners working under a United Nations contract with an airlines.
"Regrettably, these reports are confirmed," a Russian diplomat said.
"We are working in collaboration with the Sudanese authorities, with representative of the United Nations," the diplomat stressed. "We are doing our best to have the abducted Russians released and investigate all details," he said.
Meanwhile, a source from Sudan’s Foreign Ministry told (Sputnik) news agency that the kidnappers of two Russian UN contractors in the Sudanese region of Darfur demand ransom for their release.
"The kidnappers told UNAMID that they await ransom for the release of their employees. UNAMID workers have been kidnapped in Darfur several times, and the government has warned against paying ransom to avoid the recurrence of such incidents," the source said.
The UN will not comment on the kidnapping of two Russian pilots working for UTAir, a company contracted by the UN peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID), western Sudan, due to security reasons, the associate spokesperson for the Secretary-General told RIA Novosti.
"We will not make any official statements on the details of abduction or on nationality of the detainees given the sensitive efforts to obtain their safe release," Farhan Haq said.