Reporter For 'Vice' Reportedly 'Taken' By Pro-Russian Militia In Ukraine
Source: Business Insider
Simon Ostrovsky, a reporter for Vice News, was "taken" by pro-Russian forces in eastern Ukraine on Tuesday, according to multiple reports.
A Vice spokesperson said in a statement that it is "aware" of the situation and currently in contact with the State Department.
"VICE News is aware of the situation and is in contact with the United States State Department and other appropriate government authorities to secure the safety and security of our friend and colleague, Simon Ostrovsky," the spokesperson said.
According to the Russian media outlet Gazeta.ru, Ostrovsky was "taken" by the militia in the town of Sloviansk. According to the report, Vyacheslav Ponomarev, the "People's mayor" of the town, held a press conference in which he also announced authorities had called Ostrovsky's parents to inform them that their son is "well."
Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/simon-ostrovsky-taken-in-ukraine-2014-4#ixzz2zdaI5Rms
Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/simon-ostrovsky-taken-in-ukraine-2014-4
Very scary news. Simon had been providing some of the most in-depth and cutting edge coverage of the entire crisis in Ukraine. At times I did worry for his personal safety, and it appears for good reason. I can only hope he'll be release unharmed and soon.
Bosonic
(3,746 posts)By VICE News
April 22, 2014 | 5:30 pm
VICE News is aware of the situation and is in contact with the US State Department and other appropriate government authorities to secure the safety and security of our friend and colleague, Simon Ostrovsky.
Check back here for more updates on this developing situation.
https://news.vice.com/articles/vice-news-statement-on-simon-ostrovsky?trk_source=homepage-in-the-news
Duckhunter935
(16,974 posts)He has been on the ground and doing some very in depth reporting. He has been able to talk to both sides. I do find it might be getting worse with the lawlessness now and the military people who have to hide their faces with masks.What are they ashamed of? being recognized as Russian military?
Bosonic
(3,746 posts)Vice journalist Simon Ostrovsky has been taken by militia in Eastern Ukraine, Mashable has learned.
...
Sloviansk's self-appointed "People's Mayor," Vachislav Ponomaryov, reportedly held a press conference where he claimed to call Ostrovsky's parents to assure them that their son was okay, the outlet reports. "Nobody abducted him, nobody is holding him hostage, he's with us now in at the SBU, preparing material and working," Ponomaryov said, raising the remote possibility that Ostrovsky is merely embedded with the militia.
But Roland Oliphant, Moscow correspondent for The Telegraph, says the mayor and his press secretary confirmed the reporter was "in custody" at the press conference. "But very little further information so far," he adds.
The mayor of Slavyansk & his press sec have confirmed @SimonOstrovsky is in custody in Slavyansk. I was at the presser.
https://twitter.com/RolandOliphant/status/458645258264657920
http://mashable.com/2014/04/22/vice-journalist-captured-ukraine/?utm_cid=mash-com-Tw-main-link
Bosonic
(3,746 posts)https://twitter.com/GrahamWP_UK/status/458658445596839936
Bosonic
(3,746 posts)https://twitter.com/GrahamWP_UK/status/458671563702026241
All gone a bit quiet here at city hall, mayor is back in, selfdef now saying they dont know re release.
https://twitter.com/GrahamWP_UK/status/458674207980011522
Tommy_Carcetti
(43,085 posts)I was hoping for a quick resolution.
ballyhoo
(2,060 posts)was Nelya Shtepa. Is Ponomarev the "people's mayor" or basically another operative?
Bosonic
(3,746 posts)ballyhoo
(2,060 posts)probably another CIA move.
The Magistrate
(95,237 posts)Or are the people taking town halls under Russian flags in eastern Ukraine agents of the U.S. too?
"Enquiring minds want to know!"
ballyhoo
(2,060 posts)Nuland to burn more tires. Maybe they don't want to wait for NATO to do another Libya. I have my scorecard, sir. It is definitely not the same as yours.
The Magistrate
(95,237 posts)It was that you consider the people now claiming to be in charge of that town are C.I.A. assets, this despite the fact they operate under Russian flags and are adamant in denouncing the Kiev authorities, whom you also seem to feel are creatures of the C.I.A.
Either you think both sides of this are in C.I.A. employ, or you have little grasp of the events and locales.
In either case, it is hard to see what of non-comedic value you have to contribute to discussion of current events.
ballyhoo
(2,060 posts)understand counter-espionage and its use. I would bet my bottom dollar the CIA and the Russian secret police are on BOTH sides in all operations in East Ukraine right now. Let's see who is right. Good day, sir. What is the name of that bird that flies in decreasing concentric circles until in eventually flies up its...?
The Magistrate
(95,237 posts)The only question left is why you are so fond of the view....
ballyhoo
(2,060 posts)Ego mihi arbitror
Response to ballyhoo (Reply #23)
Post removed
Android3.14
(5,402 posts)Winner of the Unnecessarily Convoluted Defense of the Indefensible Award.
May I suggest a replacement phrase?
"I understand"
ballyhoo
(2,060 posts)words "I" become the subject rather than the person I am talking about. Try Strunk & White.
Android3.14
(5,402 posts)May I suggest then, "You misunderstand..."
You wrote a pedantic load of horseshit.
"Vigorous writing is concise." - Strunk and White
ballyhoo
(2,060 posts)as a person who appreciates words. You as an economist--one who thinks brevity equals beauty. A writer: Romeo, Romeo. Wherefore art thou? A non-writer: Romeo. Where are you?
Android3.14
(5,402 posts)So please, put the beer down, stub out the cigarette, turn Duck Dynasty off, or at least bring down the volume. This is 9th grade English, but still, I think it is possible, though improbable, that you may be able to rise to the occasion if you read with care.
Juliet is asking why Romeo is who he is, and not where he is.
As for the rest of your response, I'm just going to walk away with the internal assurance that your final error in judgement from this interaction will be your feeling of triumph.
penultimate
(1,110 posts)ballyhoo
(2,060 posts)you're talking about the meaning of words. I'm talking about how to express those words. I don't care whether Juliet was asking what Romeo was, where he was, or who he was....In whatever case, you would have been so succinct in your writing no one would have read it. Sorry, ace: Don't drink. Don't smoke. Haven't watched tv for over 25 years. Don't care what you do. 9th grade English is exactly what you are apparently facile at. Have a nice day, Android. Duck Dynasty? I've heard that name before. Is that a tv show folks like you watch?
muriel_volestrangler
(101,154 posts)(I presume that should have been "how to express that meaning" - you don't "express words" .
You should care what Juliet was asking. The fundamental purpose of language is to get someone else to understand your message. Sadly, that message in the balcony scene never seems to have got through to you. It's about words, ironically. She is asking why the label applied to her new love (Romeo, son of the rival Montague family) should be thought to make him her enemy. Being succinct, or facile with 9th grade English, is a pretty good skill to have. Don't knock it until you've achieved and then surpassed it.
ballyhoo
(2,060 posts)succinctness of thought losing beauty. Whatever Juliet said, had what she said been voiced too concisely the beauty of the message would have been lost irrespective of what the exact message was. Contrast: "Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary..." with "Late at night while particularly tired, I thought about something...". No matter what Poe was saying, had he said it using the second sentence, the beauty of expression would have been lost. I don't equate in the slightest the facility of 9th grade English with your ascertaining of 'you "don't express" words'. What we have here is "knowledge confused with intelligence", which incidentally was an essay written by someone famous long ago whose name escapes me. Shakespeare never came anywhere near 9th grade English...thank God. This is something more left to editorial writers in the Washington Post.
muriel_volestrangler
(101,154 posts)There's no beauty in it; it's just a bit awkward.
Shakespeare, and Poe, used language correctly. Shakespeare knew what 'wherefore' meant, and used it in an appropriate context. Since you didn't know what it means, you shouldn't have tried to use it to criticise other people's language.
'To ascertain' means 'to find out'. You seem to be misusing words again. "I don't equate in the slightest the facility of 9th grade English with..." is also convoluted. The sentence makes no sense.
ballyhoo
(2,060 posts)I don't equate in the slightest the "facility" of 9th grade English with..." is also convoluted.
Let's move "facility" out of the sentence and put in its meaning (expressed, said, written with, etc) with words.
I don't equate in the slightest the "ability to use" 9th grade English with..." is also convoluted.
I've written every day for forty years and have been published many times. I'm sorry you can not understand my writing; I have rarely had that trouble. Your criticism means little to me. Were I a beginning writer it might cause me to overly examine my writing--maybe to the point I would stop writing. Right now in this day and age, I prefer Sydney Sheldon to Shakespeare or Poe because I prefer clarity in expression, however strained this may seem to you, because the typical audience of today does not care for nuance of thought or beauty of expression. They want to know what you said and move on to the next computer game.
And so...Thank you for your time.
muriel_volestrangler
(101,154 posts)You do really need to re-examine your writing. I suggest that you stop trying to use words that you're not sure about; and that you consider whether odd phrasing is actually 'beautiful', or just less comprehensible.
ballyhoo
(2,060 posts)need to do is examine is your propensity for abject criticism. Susan Sontag knew all about this. Interpretation is the revenge of the intellectual upon art.
muriel_volestrangler
(101,154 posts)You just like to use words of which you're not too certain you know the meaning. Being obscure in a conversation is not "art".
ballyhoo
(2,060 posts)board is tactical. We are not in Disneyland here. I am certain of all words I use. And am done with this conversation.
muriel_volestrangler
(101,154 posts)"Being obscure on a political board is tactical"
That's the silliest attempt at an excuse I seen in months. You're saying you write poorly on purpose.
penultimate
(1,110 posts)joshcryer
(62,265 posts)ballyhoo
(2,060 posts)difference becomes sublime.
joshcryer
(62,265 posts)ballyhoo
(2,060 posts)Yeah, right. And how about the Maidan folk? With their sudden carve-out of an agreement. Let the people vote as to what they want to do. Get the politicians and the pretend magistrates out of the picture. Let the people decide what is best for them. And let the Swedes or the Fins witness it.
joshcryer
(62,265 posts)Unless you're in an occupied territory and being annexed of course.
Especially because you want to leave room for campaigning and sides sharing how they think the country should move forward after their President abandoned his duties.
karynnj
(59,475 posts)in 90 days - May 25.
How quickly do you think elections could be held - giving all parties the time to pick candidates and campaign.
You might remember that the election to replace John Kerry took place on June 25, 2013. The state of Massachusetts was NOT in chaos and had known since mid December 2012 that Kerry was almost certainly leaving. (Obama had named him and no opposition was anticipated.) Kerry was confirmed in late January and moved to SoS February 1. Note that MA gave itself more time to replace Kerry than the Rada gave for a Ukraine in crisis.
ballyhoo
(2,060 posts)HR 2847. There is a bunch of stuff about ready to happen.
newthinking
(3,982 posts)Which are still roaming freely in the countryside "enforcing order". It is not shown in the Ukrainian media because it is heavily under control by... guess who... SVOBODA.
I ask again: Can anyone explain why Right Sector and Svoboda leaders have not been removed from their Executive level positions over "National Security" and Defense? Maybe because they are using them to "enforce" order with Right Sector doing the dirtier work?
They do it like this;
Or like this:
joshcryer
(62,265 posts)I think they were installed by the State Department so that they would crack down, but they have yet to do that, because even they aren't stupid.
EX500rider
(10,532 posts)joshcryer
(62,265 posts)The Putinists fascist supporters must be belated a real reporter, and not an RT propagandist, is detained. I've seen vile opinions from these type, I bet they're licking their chops to see Simons head on a pike.
KurtNYC
(14,549 posts)cosmicone
(11,014 posts)Tommy_Carcetti
(43,085 posts)Vice News said in a statement that the Brooklyn-based news organization is aware of the situation and is in contact with the United States State Department and other appropriate government authorities to secure the safety and security of our friend and colleague.
Mr. Ostrovsky and his colleagues have produced a series of vivid dispatches for the Vice News YouTube channel in recent weeks on the turmoil in Ukraine, including a report from Slovyansk posted online Sunday about the governments hapless attempt to retake the town late last week.
Tensions in Slovyansk spiked over the weekend, when a gun battle late Saturday left at least three men dead in murky circumstances. The Kyiv Post reported on Tuesday that a statement from Ukraines acting president said that the military would relaunch its operation to quell the separatist movement after the dead bodies of two men, including a local politician, had been discovered near Slovyansk, showing signs of having been brutally tortured.
Before his disappearance, Mr. Ostrovsky had reported on Monday via Twitter that Vyachislav Ponomaryov, a pro-Russian activist and the towns de facto mayor, had berated journalists for provocative questions about the towns former mayor, and a woman pressed reporters to make donations towards the funeral expenses of the separatists killed in the shoot-out.
freshwest
(53,661 posts)joshcryer
(62,265 posts)davidpdx
(22,000 posts)They don't have to listen to the truth anymore.
Yes, Russia, Russia, Russia, democracy, democracy, democracy
I've been watching his dispatches for some time now and hope he is release without harm.
joshcryer
(62,265 posts)I know that they want this to end badly for Simon, who btw, is a liberal in his reporting style. In fact, he did in fact show the pro-Russians in a fair light, unlike how RT propagandized against Euromaiden.
joshcryer
(62,265 posts)Vice is good at keeping their guys safe.
freshwest
(53,661 posts)penultimate
(1,110 posts)I'm sure he will be fine. At least I hope so.
MADem
(135,425 posts)All it will get them is a world of scrutiny, and solidify in our minds something we've already suspected--that these pro-Russian assholes are, at MINIMUM, a bunch of fucking bullies...and perhaps worse.
VICE does do a pretty good job covering issues. They try, at least, to touch on all sides, even if they do take a "POV" approach to some issues. They don't pretend to lack bias or suggest their accounts are conclusive when all they can get is one end of a thing, and for that they merit props.
EX500rider
(10,532 posts)Igel
(35,197 posts)So there's that, whatever you want to make of it.
joshcryer
(62,265 posts)He comes off as liberal to me, especially his Palestine reporting.
levp
(188 posts)And?
NutmegYankee
(16,178 posts)EmilyAnne
(2,769 posts)Bosonic
(3,746 posts)DONETSK, Ukraine (AP) Pro-Russian gunmen in eastern Ukraine say they are holding an American journalist captive.
Simon Ostrovsky, a journalist for Vice News, has not been seen since early Tuesday.
Stella Khorosheva, a spokeswoman for the pro-Russian insurgents in the eastern city of Slovyansk, confirmed Wednesday that Ostrovsky was being held at the local branch of the Ukrainian security service that they seized more than a week ago.
Khorosheva told The Associated Press Ostrovsky is "fine" and is "suspected of bad activities" which she refused to explain. She says the insurgents are holding Ostrovsky pending their own investigation.
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/pro-russian-insurgents-hold-journalist-hostage
Now back at City Hall, SBU 'self-defence' denied any knowledge of Simon, mayor is now off somewhere, and it's gone a bit weird.
https://twitter.com/GrahamWP_UK/status/458878469095825408
Source close to mayor tells me he is 'checking the new material Simon has produced'.
https://twitter.com/GrahamWP_UK/status/458879715768811520
Bosonic
(3,746 posts)Mayor has just said that Simon is ok, is comfortable, but said that war rules in operation, accused Simon of propaganda.
https://twitter.com/GrahamWP_UK/status/458918627887300608
Mayor says that they are holding Simon as is their right, will release him whenever he deems fit.
https://twitter.com/GrahamWP_UK/status/458919897201147904
Bosonic
(3,746 posts)https://twitter.com/GrahamWP_UK/status/458954994700808192
Accusations getting weirder, I thought Israel had taken a neutral position vis-a-vis Ukraine ?!?
davidpdx
(22,000 posts)Israel and the US. I'm not sure who's saying what in regarding to his nationality. Is it the people who have took him hostage or someone else?
Bosonic
(3,746 posts)The "people's mayor" and his crew (and whoever's pulling their strings).
davidpdx
(22,000 posts)That was confusing.
Behind the Aegis
(53,833 posts)Bosonic
(3,746 posts)This 'mayor' seems to give a different answer each time he's asked about Ostrovsky.
The bottom line is it looks like Ostrovsky is a definite hostage now.
Behind the Aegis
(53,833 posts)He is likely a hostage because he is a "Western" reporter. Maybe he was taken because he is Jew. Maybe because he is an American. Hopefully, this will end soon and well.
amandabeech
(9,893 posts)anyone finding out that he was one quarter Jewish. He grew up in a closed city somewhere in the Russian north. His father, who was an ethnic Russian, was a scientist.
The only reason that I knew was because he was desperate for someone to talk to about it, and he seemed to think that I was the least likely person to be anti-semitic.
He was worried because his sister had stopped bleaching and straightening her hair. He thought that others would find out about his and her heritage because in the former SSR, apparaently no one but Jewish people had curly dark hair. They both worked for a Russian company that had reincorporated itself in the U.S. to avoid being confiscated by Putin. He understood that being Jewish in the US was generally not such a big deal, but he was worried about the Russians that he worked with in the US and in Russia.
When I first learned of Ostrovsky's capture, my first thought was, "Is he Jewish?" After the attempted registration of Jews in separatist-dominated Donetsk, I couldn't think of anything else.
Bosonic
(3,746 posts)Vyacheslav Ponomaryov, the "people's mayor" of Slavyansk, does not intend to release the American journalist Simon Ostrovsky, who last night was taken hostage by militia, Ponomaryov has told a gazeta.ru correspondent. The following is a full translation of the article by The Interpreter:
"We need captives. We need a bargaining chip. Many of our comrades are imprisoned. Those guys [Ukrainians] are grabbing them, then taking them to Kiev and torturing them. So then, we're doing the very same thing. That is, in the sense that we're taking captives," said Ponomaryov.
To the question of a correspondent about whether Ostrovsky's parents, who had telephoned the "people's mayor" on Tuesday during a press conference, should expect their son in the near future, Ponomaryov announced: "Let them do what they want. We are on our territory."
Earlier it was reported that American journalists in Slavyansk did not know where their colleague was. His mobile telephone did not answer, and he had not appeared in his hotel room.
http://pressimus.com/Interpreter_Mag/press/2414
amandabeech
(9,893 posts)Let's hope that he gets out alive.
EmilyAnne
(2,769 posts)"If [Avakov] comes here I'll personally put a bullet in his head... I won't shake hands with a faggot."
Sloviansk's new Pro-Russia mayor.