The Russian Embassy and Ukrainian representatives are working on the release of journalist Anhar Kochneva, who was abducted in Syria, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said in a commentary published on the ministry Web site on Monday.

"The Russian Embassy in Damascus is making energetic efforts jointly with Ukrainian representatives to clarify the case and to assist in the release of Kochneva," the commentary runs.

Kochneva is a citizen of Ukraine, Lukashenko said. He said the journalist has been actively cooperating with a number of Russian publications and TV channels.

Kochneva's friend Darya Mitina reported in LiveJournal that the journalist had been abducted.