MOSCOW. Feb 20 (Interfax) - The release of Russian citizen Alexander Trufanov became possible thanks to Russia's policy in the Middle East and the goodwill of the Hamas leadership, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.
"First of all, I want to ask you to convey best wishes to Alexander Trufanov, our citizen, [and] his family in relation to his liberation from captivity. I would like to say that this became possible, not least thanks to Russia's consistent policy on the Middle East peace process, which is trusted by many partners, and of course, thanks to the goodwill on the part of Hamas' leadership," Putin said at a meeting with Russia's chief rabbi Berel Lazar and President of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia, Alexander Boroda.
Trufanov was released by Hamas on February 15.