“Vostok SOS”: Step-by-step recommendations for relatives of the missing and those taken hostage

In connection with the increasing number of cases of illegal kidnapping of people, a separate service has been created to assist in the search for missing and taken hostage people from the eastern regions of Ukraine.

The tasks of the service are as follows:

1. Informing the public about missing people or hostages.

2. Information support. Drawing up a joint plan with relatives (acquaintances) of protected further actions for liberation.

3. Compilation of lists of missing persons, hostages, and victims for official appeal to international organizations and law enforcement agencies in order to provide the necessary assistance.

4. Psychological support of relatives.

5. Assistance after liberation (exit from the danger zone, medical assistance, legal support).

Each case of loss or theft requires an individual approach, but there are general recommendations. The service advises relatives on each of these points.

A step-by-step recommendation for relatives of the missing and those taken hostage.

1. It is necessary to submit an application to the police

, even in the territory occupied by militants, police departments accept applications, all your appeals are sent to a single all-Ukrainian database of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

2. Calls the “LPR” or “DPR” hotlines

, depending on the area in which people were kidnapped. It is very important to understand that when it comes to human life, our attitude towards the “kidnappers” does not matter. Our main task is to save people’s lives. It is desirable that relatives call, preferably mothers of the abducted. Terrorists, despite all the horror of the situation, are also people who have families. And many of them are no strangers to compassion. Your task, when communicating with them, asks them to help you, to be imbued with your grief and your problem. It is very important that you accept the application that your relative is missing and say that when you call, you will receive an answer as to whether there is a missing person in their database of “hostages”. In the conversation, you need to clarify the following questions:

– confirmation that the person is in their captivity

– they are trying to find out where exactly the ego is being held

– to find out what he is accused of

– when and under what conditions are they ready to let him go

– will try to agree on the fact that he would be seen, heard, and broadcasted to him.

Calling and asking to establish contact with the “militias” is very important!

First, you show that the person abducted by them is not forgotten and not lost. There are people who worry about him and will look for him.

Secondly, when they search for a person, according to the reviews of many missing people, they beat him less often, although it does not always work.

Thirdly, you will know his location.

Fourth, most often people are taken as free labor, but they are released only when relatives actively request. And give only to relatives.

3. It is necessary to submit an application to the SBU.

It is very important that the application be submitted to the central Kyiv office. Vostok SOS lawyers have developed an application form. We explain the submission procedure over the phone. We send the form by e-mail. You can apply from any city by registered letter.

4. Informing the public in mass media.

Now hundreds of people are in captivity and are listed as missing. At the moment, dozens of people are taken hostage every day in the east of Ukraine. The appearance of information in the press not only does not harm a person, but is often one of the important factors contributing to his liberation.

First, the more the press, the more obvious the problem. Today, the press is one of the most important levers of pressure on state structures.

Secondly, information about missing and kidnapped people in the press helps to show once again that these people will not be forgotten, that they are being sought.

Thirdly, former hostages can get in touch and provide information about missing and kidnapped people.

Fourth, many initiatives and international organizations take information from reports in the mass media and are included in the process of negotiations on liberation.

The “Vostok SOS” initiative cooperates with journalists of many Ukrainian mass media and helps relatives with appeals to the press, if they wish.

5. Appeal to international organizations.

They also act as negotiators for the release of hostages. At the moment, they do not have many opportunities and powers on the territory of the “people’s republics”, but nevertheless, they can also contribute to liberation in individual cases. When contacting our initiative, we give them the information ourselves.

6.

The “Vostok SOS” initiative publishes open and available information daily

. The lists consist only of information about those people whose relatives have given their consent for placement in the press. As we know, our lists are used by many law enforcement agencies and human rights organizations.

After the release of the former hostages, the Vostok SOS initiative provides the following assistance.

1. Consultation (assistance) in exiting the safe territory.

2. Provision of free medical care, examination.

3. Consulting on legal issues. If desired, legal assistance in filing official statements to law enforcement agencies.

4. Selection, together with the Maidan Psychological Service and the Sfera Dobra charitable foundation, of qualified psychologists for psychological assistance to victims and their families.

5. Help in finding temporary housing.

If you have any information about the missing

, citizens of Ukraine who were taken hostage or suffered as a result of illegal actions, report to the Informer editorial office by phone: +38 093 621 31 38 or +38 066 195 70 64 Send your photos and video materials that can help in establishing the circumstances of the abduction and the location of the hostages by e-mail:

Relatives

missing and taken hostage people from the eastern regions of Ukraine

can also get free

Ridiculous

and another

help in

Chernihiv Public Committee for the Protection of Human Rights

to the address 57/1 Gorky Street, Chernihiv, 14000; legal aid hotline phone number:

(0462) 612-532

.