MOSCOW. July 28 (Interfax-AVN) - The Sudanese charge d' affairs to Russia was summoned to the Foreign Ministry on Monday.
"The Foreign Ministry expressed its surprise at the continuing illegal detention of the Russian crew and their helicopter that was on the way to the Democratic Republic of Congo," a Moscow diplomat told Interfax.
He said that "Russia has demanded the immediate release of the crew so that it can continue its flight to Congo."
"Sudan is also expected to provide an official explanation of the incident," the diplomat noted.
An MI-26 Halo helicopter on a UN humanitarian mission to Congo was seized by Sudan's military authorities in the city of El Fasher on July 21. The Russian company that owns the helicopter has asked the Russian Foreign Ministry, the State Civil Aviation Service, the Russian Embassy in Sudan and the UN for assistance.
The helicopter was flying a mission for the UN and had over- flight permits from all the countries along its route, including Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, Greece, Cyprus, Egypt, Sudan, Chad, Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo.