175. Abduction, detention, interrogation, beating
Prymors’k (Zaporizhzhia)
LOCATION: Prymors’k (Zaporizhzhia)
DATE: April 21-May 1, 2022
NUMBER OF WITNESSES: 1
SUMMARY: The Witness and four other citizen patrol volunteers of his colleagues were abducted near the Witness’s yard by three armed men outside the Witness’ home on April 21, 2022. They were first taken to a gas station outside the city on the road to Melitopol, where the Witness was beaten and kept in an iron inventory cabinet for hours. After enduring more beatings and interrogations about his volunteer work related to humanitarian aid, the Witness was taken to the Prymorsk police station and held in detention until May 1. He was then held at the Berdyansk police station until his release on May 4, on the condition that he pledges in writing to cooperate with police and to participate in the Victory Day (annual holiday commemorating Allied victory in World War II) celebration on May 9 organized by Russian forces.
WITNESSES
The Witness of the incident was a male civilian activist and resident of Prymors’k who had worked in humanitarian aid since the beginning of the invasion.
VICTIMS
The Victim of the incident was the Witness mentioned above.
ALLEGED PERPETRATORS
as described by the Witness(es)
The perpetrators included a police officer, former police officers, and Russian soldiers who varied in rank.