Two employees of Russian airline UTair have been freed in Sudan’s Darfur, RIA Novosti reported.

Mikhail Antyufeev and Sergey Cherepanov were abducted in the troubled region on January 29.

The Russians were working in Sudan as a manager and a technician as part of the African Union/United Nations
Hybrid operation in Darfur (UNAMID).

Both former hostages are in good health and will be transported to the capital Khartoum later Saturday.

The Russian Embassy in Khartoum told Sputnik news agency that the release was the result of negotiation efforts, and that force was not used to secure their freedom, nor was a ransom paid.