American Journalist Simon Ostrovsky Held By Pro-Russian Forces In Eastern Ukraine [Video]
Pro-Russian militia are capturing journalists in eastern Ukraine. The separatists are attempting to prevent reporters from shining a light on the darkness that continues to creep into this area.
Simon Ostrovsky, an American Journalist for VICE, was taken by pro-Russian separatists on April 22. Pro-Russian militants grabbed Ostrovsky at a checkpoint in Slovyansk, which is a short drive from Donetsk and not far from the eastern border of the Ukraine. Simon, who was born in Russia and holds dual Amercian and Israeli citizenship, has not been seen since.
Vyacheslav Ponomaryov, the self-proclaimed “people’s mayor,” originally denied holding Ostrovsky against his will, saying “Nobody is holding him hostage, he’s with us now at the SBU [intelligence service building], preparing material and working.”
Ponomaryov’s comment comes into sharp contrast with what his press secretary, Stella Khoroshego, had to say – “We knew where he was going and the men manning the checkpoint were told to look out for him.” Khoroshego is herself a former journalist.
Ponomaryov’s statement conflicts not only with his press secretary’s, but with another of his own statements, reported in The Moscow Times:
And in another statement, Ponomaryov, who has recently used armed militia to take over Slovyansk, says that “People who come to power in an armed overthrow of the government are criminals.” Although he was talking about the new government that followed last year’s Kiev protests, Ponomaryov is either missing the irony in his statement completely, or laughing on the inside.
The Daily Beast reports that Ponomaryov also warned that the jounalists’ Twitter and Facebook pages were being monitered. This echoed Khoroshego’s statement – “I want to warn all journalists that we now have your passport details, so we can trace what you are reporting.” She also mentioned one of the reasons Otrovsky has been detained. “He was not reporting in a correct way.”
Vera Kuprichenko, town councilor at present, chimed in with “We know who you are; we have taken your names so we can follow who reports the truth and who doesn’t.”
The new PR team for the separatists are pushing heavily for censorship and journalistic intimidation. Whether or not it’s working is another story.
There have been more journalists taken than the American Ostrovsky. There’s Belarussian reporter Dmitry Galka. Italian journalists Paul Gogo and Kossimo Attanasio. Ukrainian journalists Serhiy Lefter, Yevhen Hapych, and Irma Krat. TIME correspondent Simon Shuster was also held. The pro-Russian separatists have practiced catch and release with some, only confiscating journalists’ equipment and papers, but others have not been so lucky. Irma Krat and Ostrovsky are still being held, and Yevhen Hapych’s whereabouts is still unknown. Investigating corruption in the Ukraine is a good way to disappear. And yet, many of the tenacious journalists released have chosen to stay in the area and continue their work.
For the past few weeks, former Moscow Times reporter Ostrovsky had been sending out videos he called Russian Roulette: The Invasion of Ukraine.
As Ostrovsky’s Tweets show below, Ponomaryov’s hateful rants and provocations call out to Putin and his troops, who are now lining the eastern borders of the Ukraine.
If [Avakov] comes here I’ll personally put a bullet in his head… I won’t shake hands with a faggot. Sloviansk’s new Pro-Russia mayor
— Simon Ostrovsky (@SimonOstrovsky) April 20, 2014
Putin, if you can’t send peacekeepers, send food and arms, we’re under attack, says new pro-Russia mayor of Sloviansk pic.twitter.com/WAaogrGPFv
— Simon Ostrovsky (@SimonOstrovsky) April 20, 2014
Perhaps Ponomaryov read these. Maybe he is watching. #FreeOstrovsky
Image via Mashable
