SHEREMETYEVO, November 3 (RIA Novosti) — Russian Mi-8 pilot Pavel Petrenko, who was captured by the Taliban in Afghanistan in April, 2013 and freed last week arrived in Moscow Monday, a RIA Novosti correspondent reported.
"I feel great, thanks to the Russian Federation and the employees of the [Russian] embassy. I can't fault anyone," Petrenko said as he arrived in Moscow. He added that he intends to give up his career as a pilot.
Petrenko said that his release had been postponed several times and that he did not believe that it would happen until he met Russian diplomats.
Petrenko's wife Galina also thanked the Russian government and the whole country for their compassion and assistance. "We are grateful to all the people of Russia, to the government and to the country for helping us bring back our husband, father and grandfather," she said.
In April 2013 the Taliban captured the passengers and crew of a Mi-8 helicopter which made a forced landing in the Azra district of Logar province in eastern Afghanistan. Russian citizen Pavel Petrenko, who was flying the helicopter, a citizen of Kyrgyzstan, a citizen of Afghanistan and seven citizens of Turkey were onboard the helicopter.
Last week Russian Foreign Ministry said that Petrenko was freed "as a result of the targeted efforts undertaken."
