American aid worker freed in Chechnya

MOSCOW, Russia (CNN) -- An American aid worker kidnapped in Chechnya has been freed by Russian security forces after more than three weeks in captivity, authorities said Sunday.

Kenny Gluck, regional chief of the humanitarian agency Doctors Without Borders, was being held for ransom after being taken from his car by masked attackers on January 9. Gluck was said to be in good condition after being freed in a Saturday night raid by Russia's Federal Security Service, the FSB.

FSB spokesman Alexander Zdanovich told the Russian news agency ITAR-Tass that Gluck was as well as could be expected under the circumstances.

Gluck, a 38-year-old New York native, was kidnapped about 20 kilometers (12 miles) south of the Chechen capital, Grozny. His kidnapping prompted the United Nations and non-governmental organizations to suspend operations in Chechnya, the rebellious Russian republic that has struggled for independence from Moscow since 1994.

A Doctors Without Borders press officer said the group talked briefly to Gluck after his release, but the organization did not expect him to return home before Monday.

Hundreds of people, including international aid workers, journalists and Russian troops, have been kidnapped and held for ransom by armed groups in the territory since the first Chechen conflict ended in 1996.

That campaign ended in defeat and humiliation for the Russian army, leaving Chechnya as a quasi-independent territory. Russian troops entered Chechnya again in 1999, deposing its separatist government, but remnants of the Chechen forces have been fighting a guerrilla campaign against the Russians from mountain bases.

Russia announced last month that it would speed up its military withdrawal from the territory, relying more on local police and special forces to maintain order.

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January 27, 2001
Russia pledges cash to Chechnya
January 25, 2001
Kremlin announces Chechnya pullback
January 20, 2001
Russian and Chechen forces clash in day of violence
January 21, 2001
Moscow pledge on Chechen human rights
January 15, 2001
Aid worker kidnapped in Chechnya
January 10, 2001
Chechnya talks raise peace options
December 24, 2000

Russian Government
Chechen Republic Online
Human Rights Watch: Chechnya
Kavkaz: Chechen news agency
Medecins Sans Frontieres

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