Italian aid worker Federico Motka has been freed after over a year of captivity in Syria, the foreign ministry announced in a statement today.
"Our compatriot Federico Motka, kidnapped in Syria and released yesterday, arrived this morning at the Roma Ciampino airport where he was welcomed by Foreign Minister Federica Mogherina," read the statement.
Italian authorities did not release details on the conditions of Motka's release.
The aid worker was kidnapped on March 12, 2013 by armed men from a camp of Syrian refugees in Atmeh.
Yesterday he was driven to the Turkish border where he left for Italy.
Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi announced the news on Twitter last night, saying he himself had informed "Giovanna Motka that her son Federico, held for a year, is free and will be in Italy tomorrow."
Motka worked as a coordinator for French NGO Acted, said the ANSA news agency. Italian media also said he had worked for German humanitarian organisation Welthungerhilfe.
