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Probe underway into abductions by Aidar fighters in eastern Ukraine

Ukraine is investigating abductions, confinement of residents from Luhansk region by fighters from Aidar, as well as facts of robbery and brigandage in the breakaway region
Fighters from from the National Guard’s battalion Aidar EPA/KONSTANTIN GRISHIN
Fighters from from the National Guard’s battalion Aidar
© EPA/KONSTANTIN GRISHIN

KIEV, October 7. /TASS/. Ukraine is investigating abductions and confinement of residents from the eastern Ukrainian Luhansk region by fighters from the National Guard’s battalion Aidar, Ukraine’s Deputy Prosecutor General Anatoly Matios told a briefing on Tuesday.

Matios, who is also Chief Military Prosecutor, said probe was underway also into facts of robbery and brigandage in the breakaway region as well as the role of the battalion leadership.

The Luhansk regional council said earlier that on October 2 Aidar battalion fighters illegally detained a regional parliamentarian in the town of Severodonetsk. On Sunday, October 5, Matios said, two Aidar fighters had been charged with illegal deprivation of freedom. Kiev’s Pechersky court later released the two men on bail.

Earlier, mass graves with bodies bearing signs of violent death were discovered on September 23 by self-defense militias some 35 kilometers north-east of Donetsk. Forensic experts came to the conclusion that the people had been shot in the head at close range. This area was previously controlled by Ukrainian security forces and the Aidar battalion.