“You are in no position to demand,” DPR serviceman on threats to his family

Detention News

Daughters of a DPR serviceman, who live in Kiev-held territory, were subject to pressure and harassment by staff of Ukrainian special services. They tried to find out some information about their father. The serviceman of the DPR People’s Militia Vitaly Mishchenko told about this in DAN press centre.

Mishchenko said that in the evening of February 13, a man called him from the phone number of one of his daughters. He said that the girls were in his room and demanded information about Vitaly’s place of service, rank and activities in the People’s Militia.

The stranger threatened to kill Vitaly’s family members in case he would refuse to provide the information. When he tried to find out information about his children and the identity of the caller, he received an unambiguous answer: “You are in no position to demand anything. You will hear your daughter’s voice at the end of the conversation.”

After a verbal argument and DPR serviceman’s refusal to “cooperate”, the caller disconnected. Then, the man received a threatening text message. “You’ve made your choice. Now wait for the body of one of your daughters,” cited Vitaly.

Vitaly has two daughters aged 11 and 21, who live in Kiev-held territory. After that phone conversation, some strangers started to call his elder daughter. She thought someone was watching her. Now the girls are safe, but Mishchenko keeps in touch with them through acquaintances.

DPR Human Rights Ombudsman Daria Morozova noted that this is not an isolated incident. Since the beginning of this year alone, the Ombudsman’s Office received about 10 complaints from DPR servicemen on pressure against their relatives by Ukrainian secret services. Morozova stressed that this issue will be raised at Minsk negotiations.

A spokesperson of the DPR Ministry of State Security Mikhail Popov also participated in the press conference. He urged servicemen and civilians to immediately approach the state security bodies in case someone tries to recruit them.

Source: DAN