Costa Rica ? A 20-year-old Kazakhstan native turned himself over to police Friday, ending a three-hour standoff and safely releasing a man he had been holding at the Russian Embassy in Costa Rica, authorities said.

Roman Bogdanyants covered his face as he was escorted by police from the building, followed by a Russian man whom police spokesman Francisco Ruiz identified as a former hostage.

Officials originally reported an armed gunman had seized eight hostages, quickly releasing five. But Russian Ambassador Valery Nikolayenko said during the standoff that he and three other officials remained in the building to help negotiate a peaceful end to the conflict.

Immigration spokeswoman Heidi Bonilla said Bogdanyants arrived in Costa Rica in 2005.