05.21.2014  07:40  censor.net.ua
Translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine

People in Donbas are being kidnapped by the “Russian Orthodox army” –said Parubiy’s adviser, a former prisoner of terrorists.

Kidnapping in Donbas [a general name for Donetsk and Luhansk regions] is directed by the Donetsk branch of “Oplot” [a criminal organization], which has separated from the Kharkiv “Oplot” branch some time ago and now call themselves the “Russian Orthodox army.”

This was said in the “Glavcom.ua” interview with NSDC [National Security Defense Council] Secretary Council advisor, a former policeman and a sotnyk [a man in charge of a military unit – sotnya] of the 28th Sotnya of Maidan Self-Defence Nikolay Yakubovich [reposted by “censor.net”].

Nikolay Yakubovich

“On the 1st of May in Makiivka [city in Donetsk region] an activist from “Batkivshchyna” [“Fatherland” Ukrainian political party], who worked in the election headquarters was kidnapped. I heard about it from friends and decided to help. I drove to the local administration, talked with the militants. I said that this man did nothing wrong to them, tried to make sure that this guy would be released. However, nothing came of it. The next day this guy called me, said he was being released. I sat in the car, went to meet him at the appointed place, just wanted to talk about what happened. When I arrived, I was immediately surrounded by a group of men with guns. Of course, I never thought that I would be captured. The people who held me named themselves the “Russian Orthodox army” –said Yakubovich.

According to him, it is the Donetsk branch of “Oplot,” which has separated from the Kharkiv “Oplot” branch some time ago and now call themselves the “Russian Orthodox army.”

“They have about 100 activists. There is no single leader. Mostly they are Ukrainians. At least, I have not seen any foreigners among them. One of the activists is a resident of Krasnoarmiysk [city in Donetsk region], nicknamed Mongol, whose identity is now being traced. There are many former soldiers in their ranks who were mercenaries in the Russian army, fought in Chechnya and Transnistria, –said Yakubovich. They asked me why I was driving to a meeting, what information I needed.”

Yakubovich was beaten several times, transported from place to place, but after 4 days he was released by being traded for one of the terrorists.

“My liberation can be explained by a set of factors, starting from interactions at the NSDC and Self-Defense level, and ending up with interested people in the camp of militants who agreed to the exchange” –Yakubovich explained.

Source: censor.net.ua