MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Negotiators paid a $1.6 million ransom for the release of a German-American journalist who was kidnapped in Somalia and held for two years and eight months, a commander of pirates who held him said Wednesday. A German spokeswoman would not confirm that money was paid for the freedom of Michael Scott Moore and U.S. policy prohibits paying ransoms. 

Moore is “doing well” and receiving medical care, Germany’s Foreign Ministry said.

Moore, 45, was flown to Kenya’s capital after being freed in Somalia on Tuesday. A special German Foreign Ministry crisis group and German federal police had worked “very closely” with U.S. authorities to win Moore’s freedom after he was kidnapped on Jan. 21, 2012, while researching a book on piracy, foreign ministry spokeswoman Sawsan Chebli told The Associated Press in Berlin.

“Given the circumstances, he’s doing well,” Chebli said.

She would not comment on what led to his release or on reports that a ransom had been paid, beyond saying “the German government cannot be blackmailed.”

The U.S. military in Africa refused to comment on whether the American military was at all involved in the case or if it would be involved in transporting Moore back to the United States.

The Somali pirates negotiated with Somali intermediaries acting on behalf of Germany, Bile Hussein, a pirate commander in the coastal town of Hobyo, told AP. He said pirates grew tired of holding Moore and were increasingly concerned the U.S. would attempt to use force to secure the journalist’s freedom. 

Chebli said Moore was at the German Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya, on Wednesday. German officials there denied Moore was present.