“Investigators believe that during the armed conflict in Donbas, Nalyvaichenko, acting in coordination with Ukrainian law-enforcement chiefs and using SBU resources, has organized the abduction of Russian citizens not involved in the armed conflict – journalists of the LifeNews television Oleg Sidyakin and Marat Saichenko,” spokesman Vladimir Markin told reporters.
He said that the two journalists endured physical and mental suffering during their unlawful imprisonment.
Russian journalists Oleg Sidyakin and Marat Saichenko were detained by the Ukrainian military on May 18 near Kramatorsk in the Donetsk region. They were brought to Kiev and faced charges of promoting terrorism. The journalists were released within a week.
Russia has repeatedly stated that attacks on journalists during military conflicts are unacceptable. Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin said that international humanitarian law must be adhered to in regard to all journalists who count as civilians in armed conflicts.
