CNN freelancer Anton Skiba has been reportedly abducted by pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine since Tuesday.
The journalist is still in the custody of the group who seized him in the hotel that he was staying. Reports say that armed men from the self-declared Donetsk People's Republic seized him outside the hotel of the separatist-controlled city of Donetsk. Skiba was said to be working that day with the network's crew as they were covering the crash site of Malaysia Airlines flight 17.
Since Skiba's detention, the said network has been doing efforts to free him as they tend to negotiate with the group of separatists. It was even said that they already attempted to negotiate with the different officials of the separatists including Prime Minister Alexander Borodai's office. The network decided not to report any details of the abduction when it happened as they were considering significant safety measures.
According to the report from CNN, freelancer Skiba has been abducted in Ukraine after he was accused of terrorism by the said group. Alexandr Kalyussky, the deputy prime minister in charge of industry in the Donetsk People's Republic, according to the report says that the journalist has been posting cash rewards for killing separatist fighters in his Facebook page. Kalyussky even presented a number of evidence showing printed documents of Skiba's Facebook page.
The CNN freelancer has been abducted in Ukraine on Tuesday after his team covered a report about the crash site for the said broadcasting network. People with guns reportedly escorted Skiba while he led him to a car and no longer resisted.
Different human rights organization and press freedom organizations have already called out for Skiba's immediate release. Organizations actively campaigning for his freedom include Committee to Protect Journalists, Reporters Without Borders and the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
