In Stakhanov, two journalists were abducted

On July 31, in Stakhanov (Luhanska obaslt) gunmen of the so-called «Luhansk People’s Republic» captured two journalists – Yevhen Shliakhtyn and Yevhen Tymofeyev, which cooperate with various Ukrainian media outlets.

Yevhen Shliakhtyn, who works as a specialist of the department of internal policy and information at Stakhanovsk city council, was taken by the gunmen from his desk at work. He made several phone calls after that but now there is no contact with him.

Also, since the morning of July 31, there has been no contact with the journalist of Stakhanovsk local media outlet «Futbolny Ohliad» Yevhen Tymofeyev. As his friends have reported, his phone is not in the network, and at the outlet’s editorial office they were told the journalist did not come to his work place as he is on vacation.

According to IMI’s own sources, the journalists indeed have been abducted due to their journalist activities. They were allowed to meet with their parents. The LPR gunmen promised to release both journalists after they keep them for several days to rectify.