Journalist Vasin may not live long enough for exchange – NUJU

The National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU) insists that the state of health of journalist Stanislav Aseyev, who was captuerd in Donetsk, is a cause for concern – he might not live long enough for the prisoner exchange, Ukrinform reports. This was discussed in the meeting between the NUJU secretary Lina Kushch and the head of the NGO «Grupa «Patriot» (Center for Hostage Recovery) Oleh Kotenko, as the National Union of Journalists informed Ukrinform. According to Kotenko, Stanislav Aseyev was detained by the so-called LPR’s Ministry of State Security and is suspected of spying. They took away his phone and found the people who were in touch with him and detained them, too. Some were already released and some are still not. The volunteer admits that there is a possibility that Aseyev is tortured to force him to incriminate himself and others and that might be the reason the militants don’t show him. As IMI has reported earlier, on June 6 the former MP Yehor Firsov on his Facebook page informed that journalist Stanislav Vasin went missing in the occupied Donetsk. Radio Liberty lost contact with Vasin on June 2. Stanislav last contacted his mother in the lunchtime on June 2. On June 8, police launched an investigation of the disappearance of journalist Stanislav Vasin. On June 11, the Security Service of Ukraine confirmed disappearance of Vasin in Donetsk. Stanislav Vasin, who was captured by the “DPR” militants, is in fact journalist, essayist and writer Stas  Aseyev, and Vasin is his pen-name. Stanislav Vasin contributed to the Radio Liberty project “Donbas. Realii”, “Ukrainskyi Tyzhden”, “Ukrainska Pravda”, “Dzerkalo Tyzhnia”. On June 12 Radio Liberty called for release of the Radio Liberty blogger and contributor Stanislav Vasin (Aseyev), who disappeared in Donetsk in June. On June 14, the international advocacy organization “Reporters Without Borders” issed a statement calling for immediate release of Stanislav Aseyev. On June 16, the Committee to Protect Journalists called for release of Donetsk blogger and Radio Donbas.Realii Stanislav Aseyev. On June 22, the former MP Yehor Firsov reported that Stanislav Vasin (Aseyev) was included to the prisoner exchange list.