Ukrainian journalist detained by separatists in the Donbas
The self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) confirmed that the Ukrainian blogger and journalist, Stanislav Aseyev (Vasin), who disappeared in Donetsk in early June, was detained and is being held captive by them, according to the former People's Deputy of the 8th convocation of the Verkhovna Rada, Yegor Firsov, Interfax reports.
"The MGB (Ministry of State Security) of the DPR officially confirmed that he was detained, Stas's mother was given written confirmation and he has been accused of espionage," Firsov wrote on Facebook on Sunday. According to him, Aseyev's mother was allowed to see her son.
It was previously reported that Aseyev, who resides in the uncontrolled area of the Donbas, was publishing in the Ukrainian media under the pseudonym Stanislav Vasin. The last time Aseyev was in contact with anyone was on June 2nd.
On June 11th, the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJ) appealed to international missions with a request to clarify the circumstances of the disappearance of Aseyev in Donetsk.
The NUJ asked the Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media in Vienna to ask the representatives of the OSCE SMM about the situation on the ground in Donetsk. In addition, the union sent a letter to the International Committee of the Red Cross with a request to meet with the mother of their missing colleague and find out what assistance he needs.
The head of the NUJ, Serhiy Tomilenko, explained that the international missions can only directly address "those who now control the situation in Donetsk" to obtain reliable information that will help determine next steps. In particular, the NUJ hopes to find out where Aseyev is detained, and in case of his arrest - what he is accused of and whether he has access to a lawyer.