Reports: Estonia Paid Kidnappers 10-Million-Euro Ransom
The Estonian government paid the kidnappers of the seven Estonian tourists 10 million euros to win their release, media reports said Friday.
Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet said Thursday that no force was used to free the hostages and that several countries and their respective intelligence services were involved in the operation.
But when asked whether the Estonian government paid a ransom, Paet referred only to the "costs" involved.
"There are always costs involved with such a joint (release) operation," Paet told a news conference in Tallinn, Estonia.
He did not elaborate except to say that "the cost was not minor."
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