109 return to Russia, former hostage stays in Iraq

An Avialinia-400 plane left Iraq for Russia at 11:30 a.m. (Moscow time) with 109 employees from Interenergoservice. A Rosbalt correspondent within the company was informed that one of the hostages freed yesterday-Andrei Mesheriakov-is staying to work in Iraq. The other former hostage-Alexander Gordienko-is returning to Russia. It was learned that the flight was originally scheduled to depart on Monday, but was delayed in expectation of the hostages' release.

The Avialinia-400 flight, expressly ordered by Interenergoservice, is scheduled to land at Dovodedovo at approximately 3:00 p.m., and also contains the body of the employee who was killed in Iraq. The Emergencies Ministry is not connected with the evacuation of Interenergoservice employees.