Russia demands immediate UN response to the abduction of Russians in Syria

Foreign Ministry demanded UN Security Council to immediately respond

to the abduction of Russian citizens with tough call for the Syrian

opposition to stop threats and attacks on foreigners who are not

involved in armed conflict.  The Foreign Ministry asked all the states

who have influence over the oppositional forces to take all possible

measures for the release of the hostages.

"We urge the authors of this crime to immediately release our fellow

citizens and third country nationals" the statement says.

A spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry Alexander Lukashevich

said that despite appeals of Moscow, several members of the Security

Council refuse to work in this direction demanding more facts to

support Russian claims. .

"Now, such threats got materialized. On December 17 on the road

Homs-Tartous three employees of a steel manufacturing company" Hmisho

and Co.", located in the industrial area near Homs were kidnapped. Two

of them were Russians, one was Italian. Clearly, the capture of

foreigners in Syria is the work of illegal armed groups, not excluding

those who had previously captured a Ukrainian national Ankhar

Kochneva,  demanding a ransom for her release, "said Lukashevich.