‘LPR’ militants capture Ivano-Frankivsk journalist, record video where she confesses to being SBU agent

Дата: 22 June 2016
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June 21, militants of the so-called “Luhansk People’s Republic” announced they had captured Olha Bohdanova, Ukrainian journalist from Ivano-Frankivsk, correspondent of Holos-info media outlet.

As Radio Liberty reports, militants accuse the journalist of “collection and transfer of information of political and military nature in the territory of LPR at the instructions of Ukrainian special services.”

A video was released on the Internet showing Olha confirming that she was recruited as an agent of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) on the eve of her private visit to the territory controlled by the “LPR.” In the video, the girl is saying that her boyfriend is a serviceman of a “territorial divisions of the Republic.”

June 22, the Holos-info media outlet edition released a statement to confirm that Olha Svorak (Bohdanova), taken captive in the occupied territory of Luhansk region by militants, is indeed a correspondent for the local newspaper “Voice of the People of Ivano-Frankivsk region” and Holos-info Internet resource.

In the statement, the chairman of the all-Ukrainian association Rostyslav Hudzynsky and editor-in-chief of the newspaper “Voice of the People of Ivano-Frankivsk region” Vitaly Chornenky stated that Svorak had been in Kyiv at the instructions of the editorial board. She travelled to the occupied territory on a private visit and had no editorial assignments for that trip.

We know nothing about links of Olha Svorak with the Security Service of Ukraine,” the statement reads.

At the same time, having viewed the video spread by militants, the editorial staff made a conclusion that Svorak “was subjected to torture, both physical and psychological.”

The text proclaimed by Olha on a video was prepared by militants and, therefore, in our opinion, she defamed herself,” the editorial staff noted.

The newspaper, website and NGO “Holos” (Voice) promised to seek release of their journalist from captivity “by all available means”.

In turn, First Secretary of the National Union of Journalists Serhiy Tomilenko said that the Union was now collecting the information about capturing of Olha Svorak (Bohdanova) by militants and would take measures to release her.

Unfortunately, the period when none of our colleagues was held captive in Ukraine ended. It lasted since March, when Maria Varfolomeyeva was released from “LPR” captivity. Now we will try to collect all possible information about the captive journalist and address the international organizations to promote her release,” the Union’s press service quotes Tomilenko as saying.

In a commentary to the Union, Chornenky also informed that journalist Svorak had been working for the media outlet for three years. Her press card is valid until 2020.

Basically, she dealt with social topics, sometimes she was carrying out journalistic investigations into education, medicine at the editorial instructions. She rarely covered political topics,” Chornenky said.

According to him, Olha lived in Ivano-Frankivsk and was primarily working in Ivano-Frankivsk, Chernivtsi, Lviv. Sometimes, she went to Kyiv to cover certain topics. She sent the articles via e-mail.

He noted that Svorak always had a pro-Ukrainian stance, so he is convinced that the video was recorded under pressure.

It can be seen on the video that she has her cheeks and forehead made-up. In addition, she is constantly looking to the side as if she is reading a text from somewhere,” Chornenky said.

According to him, the editorial board has already met with representatives of the OSCE, the Red Cross and hopes for their participation and assistance.

At the same time, June 22, Spokeswoman for SBU Olena Hitlianska posted on her Facebook page that capturing Ivano-Frankivsk journalist Svorak by “LPR” militants on suspicion of spying was fake news and stressed that the Security Service would not comment on this information.

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