Russia helps secure Syria's release of US detainee

Journalist Kevin Dawes was being held in Syria by Bashar al-Assad's regime (AFP Photo/Handout)

Washington (AFP) - Russia secured the release of a US citizen detained in war-torn Syria and has handed him over to American authorities, Moscow's foreign ministry said Friday.

In Washington, the US State Department thanked Russia for its assistance in the case of a man who was abducted in 2012 after crossing the border from Turkey.

"Kevin Dawes was transferred to Moscow in a military plane and handed over to US embassy representatives," the Russian foreign ministry said.

"Shortly afterwards he left Russia. We hope he doesn't put himself in a similar situation again and that Washington will appreciate Damascus' gesture."

According to an FBI missing persons report that was taken offline Friday, Dawes is a 33-year-old "freelance photographer" from California.

But reports in US media since his disappearance in October 2012 in northern Syria have portrayed him as an adventurer and would-be guerrilla who once took up arms in Libya.

The Russian statement said Bashar al-Assad's Syrian regime had detained him for "entering Syria illegally" and that he had arrived in Moscow on April 1.

A US spokesman would not confirm the identity of the released captive but did not dispute media reports that named him as Dawes.

"This individual was released in the last few days. He is no longer in Syria," spokesman Mark Toner said, refusing to say where he is now.

Citing US privacy law, the spokesman said he could give no further information about the former detainee's identity nor the manner of his release.

But he thanked Assad's ally Moscow for assisting in the case.

"We are appreciative of efforts on the behalf of the Russian government that it undertook on behalf of this US citizen," he said.

A number of US citizens, including but not limited to 31-year-old photojournalist Austin Tice, are still reported as missing in war-torn Syria, Toner said.

He would not be drawn on the full number of missing Americans.

A detailed profile published in GQ Magazine portrayed Dawes as an adventurer and "have-a-go guerrilla." He appears in photographs in body armor and carrying a rifle.

Prior to disappearing in Syria, Dawes had taken up arms with a militia fighting Moamer Kadhafi's regime in Libya, according to an interview he gave to NPR radio in 2011.

Despite Dawes' somewhat different profile, the unexpected release has given hope to campaigners seeking the better known freelance journalist Tice's freedom.

The United States has no diplomatic relations with Syria, believing that Assad lost legitimacy after his crackdown on opposition protests triggered a civil war.

- Missing Americans -

Nevertheless, Toner confirmed that US officials had direct contact with Syrian officials to lobby for information on the missing Americans.

And he thanked the Czech republic, whose embassy in Damascus represents the interests of Americans in Syria for their assistance in the matter.

"We continue to work through the Czechs on the ground to get information on the whereabouts of Austin Tice," Toner said.

Tice is an American freelance journalist who worked for the Washington Post, McClatchy and other US media outlets until he went missing in Syria in August 2012.

According to the Post report, officials seeking Tice's freedom see Dawes' release as a positive sign. Tice's family had no immediate comment.

Press watchdog Reporters Without Borders said it was "delighted that US citizen Kevin Dawes was released and hopeful that US journalist Austin Tice will be free soon."

There have been reports that Washington has been leaning on the Russians to pressure Assad into giving up undeclared US hostages.

"We welcome Russia's support wherever we can get it in terms of getting the release of any Americans who were detained in Syria," Toner said.

US Secretary of State John Kerry visited Moscow last month and held closed-door talks with President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.