Geneva/Dagestan - The humanitarian organisation Médecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) confirms that Arjan Erkel, a Dutch national working as head of Mission for MSF since February 2002 in Makhachkala, in the Russian Republic of Dagestan, was abducted yesterday evening (August 12). The kidnapping occurred in Makhachkala at around 10.00pm.
On his way home, the MSF car was intercepted by a local vehicle with three men on board - two of them armed - and Arjan was abducted and pushed into another car. MSF is extremely concerned about this incident and demands the immediate safe release of Arjan.