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The Tribunal for Putin (T4P) global initiative was set up in response to the all-out war launched by Russia against Ukraine in February 2022.

Five journalists not on the list of Kremlin-backed militants’ hostages

13.09.2014   
The 409 names on the list do not include Espreo journalist Yehor Vorobyov, Dmitry Potekhin, Yury Lelyavsky or two Kharkiv journalists not seen since the end of August

The Centre for Freeing Prisoners has posted the list provided by the so-called Donetsk people’s republic on Sept 9.  There are 409 names on it, including some who have since then been released. 

The list does not mention five journalists whom Telekritika reports to be held by the DPR, the analogous Kremlin-backed and armed militants in Luhansk [LPR] or by Russian military.

There is no mention of Kharkiv journalist Roman Cheremsky from Ukrainsky Prostir and Valery Makeyev.  There has been no contact with them since the night from Aug 30-31.  They are believed to be held in the prison of the so-called ‘military command of the LPR’ in Rovenki [Luhansk oblast].

No information is available about the fate of Espreso TV journalist Yehor Vorobyov who was taken prisoner by Russian soldiers near Ilovaisk [Donetsk oblast] [See Russia’s Ilovaisk Treachery]

Yury Lelyavsky is also not on the list.  As reported, the Lviv freelance journalist reporting for ZIK was taken hostage by Kremlin-backed militants for a second time on Aug 25 in the Luhansk oblast. .

He had been covering a mission of priests from different denominations who were heading to the front line and was seized together with two other people. He was reported later to be alive and held in the basement of the Luhansk regional administration.  Lelyavsky has already been held hostage once, in Slovyansk.  He was released, together with journalists Serhiy Leftner and Artem Deineha, in early May. 

On Aug7 Dmitry Potekhin, blogger for Ukrainska Pravda and director of the European Strategy Group was taken prisoner, accused of ‘spying’. He is being held hostage by the DPR and has begun a hunger strike in protest. 

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