Russia opens probe into journalist kidnapping in eastern Ukraine

MOSCOW, August 12 (Itar-Tass) - The Russian Investigative Committee has launched a criminal case into the alleged kidnapping of a photo journalist in eastern Ukraine, the committee's spokesman said on Tuesday. Andrei Stenin, a reporter with the state-run Rossiya Segodnya news agency (formerly known as RIA Novosti), went missing on August 5. He has been working in Ukraine's cities of Kiev, Donetsk, Lugansk, Slavyanks and others since May 13. Spokesman Vladimir Markin said the committee "is looking into the involvement of Ukraine's National Guard and security services in Stenin's kidnapping." However, Ukraine had earlier denied holding any Russian journalists in custody. Safety of journalists working in Ukraine’s war-torn southeastern regions repeatedly raised international concerns, particularly following a series killings of Russian and international journalists over the two months. Learn more on itar-tass.com