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Russian TV channel RT confirms release of its stringer

Phillips went on the line for the first time since his disappearance on July 22
Stringer of Russian TV channel RT Graham Phillips AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko
Stringer of Russian TV channel RT Graham Phillips
© AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko

MOSCOW, July 26. /ITAR-TASS/. Stringer of Russian TV channel RT Graham Phillips who was detained in Ukraine several days ago was released and is staying in Poland, RT website reported.

Phillips went on the line for the first time since his disappearance on July 22.

Ukrainian media have earlier reported about the release of the journalist with the reference to the Ukrainian Security Service. They also said that Ukrainian law enforcement agencies had expelled Phillips from the country and banned him from entering Ukraine for three years, explaining this “by interests of state security, sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

The RT stringer confirmed this information in his Twitter account. He also added that he had not been beaten up after detention, but Ukrainian military forces had taken his car, money and bullet-proof vest. “I'm free, ok, deported from Ukraine, banned for 3 years, because 'I work for RT',” the RT stringer wrote down.

British national Phillips and several journalists of Ukrainian news portal Anna-News disappeared on July 22. It was reported that they decided to take a look at east Ukraine’s Donetsk airport and were detained.

On Thursday, Anna-News journalist Vadim Aksyonov was freed. He said that begs were put on the head to him and other journalists, including the RT stringer at Donetsk airport. Aksyonov named this offence as kidnapping and said with confidence that these were Ukrainian servicemen who had masterminded it.

He also added that law enforcement agencies had tried to make the journalists say about the plans of the leadership of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People ’s Republic and Russian leadership’s intentions.

Ukrainian law enforcement agencies have detained Phillips already not for the first time in the country. The Ukrainian military have seized him in late May and he was released only after the story of his kidnapping had been published in international media.