On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Russian nationals who were detained in the Gaza Strip after the October 2023 attack, and said that long -term relations between Moscow and the Palestinians helped ensure their freedom.
“Your freedom is the result of many years of stable relations between Russia, the Palestinian people, and representatives of various organizations,” Russian news agencies quoted Putin as saying to the former detainee Alexander Truvanov and members of his family.
The Russian agencies quoted him as saying in the meeting that was held in the Kremlin late at night, “Here we must present a word of thanks to the leadership of Hamas and its political wing for the gesture that presented us with this humanitarian work.”
Putin said Russia “has really done everything” to ensure the liberation of Trovanov, and would do everything necessary to ensure the release of the remaining detainees.
Truvanov was released in February after nearly 500 days of detention. He thanked Putin for his efforts to ensure his release.
The agencies stated that Putin presented flowers to the mother of Truvanov and his fiancée, who were also among about 250 people who were held by Hamas on October 7, 2023.
They were released in late 2023, along with Jeddah Truvanov, while Truvanov’s father was killed during the attacks.
Russia is working to maintain good relations with the two parties to the conflict, but it emphasizes that a settlement can be achieved in the Middle East except on the basis of a two -state solution.
