BEIRUT: Justice Minister Shakib Qortbawi said Monday that Lebanese authorities are actively following up on the issue of seven Estonians who were kidnapped in Lebanon in March.
During a meeting with Estonia’s Attorney General Heili Sepp at the Justice Ministry, Qortbawi said the issue of the Estonians is of high priority to Lebanese security and judicial authorities.
The meeting between Qortbawi and Tallinn’s attorney general took place a day after several media reports said a third video showing the seven kidnapped Estonians was sent to their relatives in Estonia via their email.
“There won’t be any negligence concerning this issue … the kidnapping of the Estonians is one of the Lebanese government’s primary concerns,” Qortbawi told Sepp. Seven Estonian cyclists went missing in March when unknown assailants kidnapped them on the outskirts of Zahle as they cycled into Lebanon from neighboring Syria.
Lebanese and Estonian authorities have held a series of diplomatic talks since the kidnapping, but no significant security lead has been achieved so far.
But the seven Estonians have been shown appealing for help in YouTube videos posted online on April 20 and May 20. Later Monday, Sepp also met with Lebanon’s State Prosecutor Saeed Mirza.
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