Mother begs for release of Ukrainian kidnapped in Syria

The mother of a Ukrainian journalist kidnapped by rebels in Syria issued a plea Wednesday for her release, a day before the expiry of a ransom deadline that appeared to hold her life on the line. Ankhar Kotchneva's abductors, who claim to belong to the rebel Free Syrian Army, have said they will execute the young woman on Thursday unless they receive a ransom of $50 million (38 million euros), according to local media. Addressing the captors in a video posted online, a tearful Lioudmila Kotchneva said: "You also have mothers and children. Please, why commit a sin? I beg you, set her free. "Ukraine, Russia, please, save her before it is too late," the mother added in the video posted by the 1+1 television channel. The 30-second plea can be seen on the 1+1 website with English subtitles: tsn.ua/video/video-novini/mati-vikradenoyi-v-siriyi-ukrayinki-blagaye-vryatuvati-dochku-vid-strati.html. The younger Kotchneva was working in Syria as an assistant and interpreter for Russian media when she was kidnapped in early October. In another video posted online this month, the journalist said she had worked for Russian and Syrian intelligence in remarks she is thought to have made under duress. She also said she had taken part in several clashes alongside Russian and Syrian officers in Syria, which has been rocked by a 21-month civil war that has already claimed more than 42,000 lives, according to a rights monitor. Since her arrival in Syria in September, Kotchneva -- who is fluent in Arabic -- had made frequent television appearances to defend President Bashar al-Assad's regime, for which she was threatened by rebels, according to a friend quoted in the Russian press. Fifteen professional journalists from Syria or abroad and 41 citizen journalists have been killed in Syria since the conflict began in March, according to the press watchdog Reporters Without Borders. Two foreign journalists have also gone missing in the country.