Armed man takes hostages in Russian embassy in Costa Rica
Pastor Dale Morgan
Saturday May 12, 5:51 AM
*
Armed man takes hostages in Russian embassy in Costa Rica*
Police surrounded the Russian embassy here Friday after an armed man
seized several hostages inside, officials said, amid reports Moscow's
ambassador to Costa Rica was among those being held.
Costa Rican Public Security Minister Fernando Berrocal said the man had
taken an unknown number of hostages inside the diplomatic mission in San
Jose.
"My understanding is that it is a hostage seizure," Berrocal told
reporters. "An armed man is holding several people."
A witness told local television news that Ambassador Nikolaenko Valery
was among eight people being held, but Costa Rican officials did not
confirm the account.
The same witness identified the armed man as Roman Bordayan, about 17 or
20 years old and a native of the former Soviet republic of Kyrgyzstan.
Boradayan earlier came to the embassy with his mother to renew his
passport, according to the witness.
At least four people, three men and a woman, were later released,
television images showed, but the standoff did not appear to be over.
Local media reported Boradayan's family had lost money after being
tricked by a Russian citizen into coming to Costa Rica for business
purposes, and that he could not renew his passport at the Russian
embassy because he was from Kyrgyzstan.
According to local media, Boradayan comes from a humble background and
has been living in Costa Rica for a year.