Support The Moscow Times!

Detained Russian Journalist Released in Eastern Ukraine

Pavel Kanygin was captured overnight in the eastern city of Artemivsk.

A Russian journalist from investigative newspaper Novaya Gazeta was released Monday, having been detained overnight in the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine.         

Correspondent Pavel Kanygin made contact with the editorial office after hours of uncertainty about his whereabouts, said a message published on the Novaya Gazeta website.

Kanygin was captured overnight in the eastern city of Artemivsk by unknown assailants and taken to Slovyansk, Ekho Moskvy said.

The journalist had earlier highlighted on his Facebook account several shortcomings in the organization of a referendum on self-rule for eastern Ukraine, which was held Sunday in the Donetsk region.

Correspondent for Ekho Moskvy, Ilya Azar, said Monday on his Twitter account that he had received a text message from Kanygin saying: "I have been kidnapped, call Moscow."

Azar said in the Twitter message that he had paid $1000 to facilitate Kanygin's release.

Eastern Ukraine has seen several kidnappings in recent weeks, with a team of OSCE observers and several Western journalists having been taken hostage by separatist militants.

See also:

Russian Journalist Kidnapped in Ukraine, Colleague Says

… we have a small favor to ask.

As you may have heard, The Moscow Times, an independent news source for over 30 years, has been unjustly branded as a "foreign agent" by the Russian government. This blatant attempt to silence our voice is a direct assault on the integrity of journalism and the values we hold dear.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. Our commitment to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia remains unshaken. But we need your help to continue our critical mission.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just 2. It's quick to set up, and you can be confident that you're making a significant impact every month by supporting open, independent journalism. Thank you.

Continue

Read more