The Georgian pilot Soso Osorauli, captured by members of the illegal armed formation of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), died in May this year, the M23 leader Bertrand Bisimwa said in an interview with the Imedi television channel.
"We are not a criminal group that requires money for the release of people. In talks with representatives of your government, we stressed that we did not ask for money," he added. The only thing M23 asked, according to Bisimwa, is to take Osarauli from Congo to prevent him from struggles with the locals.
The rebels captured Osarauli in January 2017. According to reports, the insurgents demanded $1 million for the release of the captive. In May the Georgian Foreign Ministry announced its possible death, Sputnik reports.
The Georgian authorities do not know why the pilot was in Congo.
