The missing pilot, who disappeared after a Russian helicopter was hijacked in Dafur, has been freed, a senior Russian lawmaker said on Thursday.
"The pilot has already been taken to the UN mission," Mikhail Margelov said.
The helicopter, carrying four crewmembers and five passengers, was seized by insurgents on Monday, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.
The remaining three crewmembers and all five passengers on board were confirmed safe shortly after the siege.
"Our people, including the Russian embassy, were working 24/7 to secure the release of the pilot," Margelov said.
He said a group of militants serving the interests of Sudanese paramilitary forces, were behind his abduction.
"Our position is simple; none of the sides fighting in Darfur may use Russian pilots as bargaining chips," he said.
The pilot was released at around 20.15 - 20.30 Moscow time (16.15 - 16.30 GMT). The circumstances of the release are still being clarified.
The helicopter, working in Sudan under a UN contract, was on a joint UN and African Union peacekeeping mission in Darfur.
RIA Novosti
