| Slovak woman aid worker
missing near Chechnya 10 Jun 2004 15:34:20 GMT MOSCOW, June 10 (Reuters) - A Slovak woman aid worker has been missing for more than a week in southern Russia near the turbulent Chechnya region, Slovakian diplomats said on Thursday. Miriam Jevikova, 28, was last in contact with her employer, the Prague-based Organisation for Aid for Refugees (OPU), on June 1 and failed to turn up for a meeting with friends at a point west of Chechnya. "She sent a message saying she was being taken away," OPU director Martin Rozumek said by telephone from Prague. He did not say how the message was received. A spokesman for the Slovak embassy in Moscow said it was undertaking every effort with Russian authorities to ensure Jevikova was found safe. Kidnappings of foreigners for ransom are frequent occurrences in the north Caucasus area, plunged into turmoil since late 1994 by fighting between the Russian military and Chechen separatists. Rozumek said Jevikova had been part of a three-member OPU delegation which had been visiting the area, but remained behind when her two colleagues returned to Prague on May 23. The organisation has no permanent presence in the area. |