American Photographer Held Hostage in Syria Released with Russian Assistance
An American photojournalist who had been held hostage in Syria for four years has been released with the assistance of Russia and handed over to U.S. authorities through the country.
According to CNN, Kevin Patrick Dawes, 33, was taken into captivity in 2012 after entering Syria through the Turkish border.
U.S. officials told the Washington Post that although the Syrian government never confirmed Dawes’ captivity, the United States believes he was taken prisoner by forces of the Syrian government or paramilitary groups affiliated with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
The U.S. State Department announced on Friday, April 8 (Farvardin 20) that Kevin Patrick Dawes has been returned to the United States through Russian officials.
Washington has thanked Moscow for this.
Russia is a close supporter of Bashar al-Assad, the president of Syria, in the Syrian civil war which is now in its sixth year.
The Czech Republic, which protects American interests in Syria, has also assisted in the process of this release.
Meanwhile, John Kirby, spokesman for the U.S. State Department, said that Washington and Prague are working on exploring solutions for the release of Austin Tice and another American citizen whose fate remains unknown.
Tice, a journalist, went missing in Syria in the summer of 2012. He appeared in a video released sometime after his disappearance with his eyes closed, but since then no information about his condition has been released.
Source: BBC Persian
