A journalist in Ukraine was kidnapped and tortured for nine days by Russian forces.
A Ukrainian reporter working for a French radio station in Ukraine was allegedly kidnapped and repeatedly tortured by Russian forces earlier this month, Reporters Without Borders (RSF), an international non-profit, has said in a report.
Nikita, whose name was changed for security reasons, was driving a car with a “press” sign on it when Russian forces fired on the vehicle with automatic weapons.
RSF said Nikita left the crashed vehicle, shouted that he was a civilian, and surrendered to six Russian soldiers, who searched and beat him. He said despite telling the soldiers he worked for a news organization, they suspected him of acting as a scout for Ukrainian artillery forces in the area.
At one point during his captivity, Nikita said he went two days without eating. Russian soldiers also stole his wedding ring and shoes. He was also subjected to electric shocks on his legs.
Nikita was also held with several others, including civilians and a senior Ukrainian civil servant. During the nine days, Nikita was electrocuted multiple times before being released on March 12.
RSF said: “Nikita still has bruises all over his body, a swollen leg, and difficulty moving his hands as a result of the electric shocks. Nikita is now recovering. His family was able to escape.”
RSF revealed: “Nikita’s account is frightening: machine-gunning of his car, torture with a knife and electricity, repeated beatings with rifle butts and steel bars in the face and body, mock execution, food deprivation for 48 hours.”
The organization said while Nikita is still recovering from the incident, he is committed to continuing his work as a journalist to contribute to “his country’s freedom because he says he is no good at wielding a gun.”
When RSF asked Nikita why he thought his captors let him live and eventually freed him, he said, “I don’t think they had the courage to dig graves.”
RSF reported another Ukrainian journalist, Oleg Baturin, described being held by Russian troops for eight days and subjected to similar mistreatment.
RSF said it plans to provide Nikita’s account to the International Criminal Court (ICC), adding to a growing list of war crimes being investigated by the court.
In February, ICC prosecutor Karim Khan announced he intends to open an investigation into allegations of Russian war crimes committed during its invasion of Ukraine. Safety for members of the press in Ukraine has been a concern since Russian forces invaded Ukraine.
Earlier this month, Brent Renaud, an American documentary filmmaker who previously worked for the New York Times, was killed after Russian troops opened fire on his vehicle carrying several foreign journalists.
Fox News cameraman Pierre Zakrzewski and producer Oleksandra Kuvshynova were also killed while filming in Ukraine this month, and reporter Benjamin Hall was injured.
RSF has declared that targeting journalists are a war crime and that recent events have led to the need for increased awareness for the abduction of journalists.
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