MOSCOW. Jan 13 (Interfax) - Russian diplomats are making efforts to ensure the release of the Russians detained in South Sudan, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said.
"The Russian Foreign Ministry is aware of the detention of several Russian citizens, including Ilya Varlamov and Pyotr Verzilov," she told reporters.
"The Russian embassy in Uganda and South Sudan (combined) is in contact with the Russian citizens and is making efforts to ensure their release," Zakharova said.
Mediazona publisher and Pussy Riot member Verzilov said earlier he had been detained in Kapoeta, South Sudan.
"I, blogger Ilya Varlamov, and three others have just been arrested by the National Security Service in the city of Kapoeta in the east of South Sudan over 'suspicion of having a drone'," Verzilov tweeted.
He said they did not have a drone.
Varlamov confirmed the detention on Telegram. He said they were being kept in a cell and awaiting "some sort of full inspection."