one of the released detainees, six individuals who rejected the proposal were subjected to psychological pressure, including death threats. All of them were released the next day. On 31 July, it was reported that two volunteers from Kyiv who were delivering humanitarian assistance to the security operation area, went missing in the Donetsk region. Later, the HRMMU learned that armed men who had taken the volunteers considered the abductees had assisted the Ukrainian military by directing airstrikes from the ground. On 1 August, armed men abducted a retired resident of Luhansk. According to his son, those who detained his father were looking for his brother who is head of the Luhansk branch of the NGO Youth Association of Ukraine. While searching the apartment, the armed men allegedly found a photo of the detainee in a “vyshyvanka” (a traditional Ukrainian embroidered shirt), and accused him of being the “Kyiv junta’s accomplice and terrorist”. On 9 August, a Donetsk journalist working for NGO.donetsk.ua, currently relocated to Kyiv, learned that her parents were detained “until the clarification of circumstances”. Ukrainian servicewoman Nadiya Savchenko who was allegedly taken captive in Luhansk region, continues to remain in a detention facility in the Russian Federation. According to the reports from former detainees, people held by the armed groups are often subjected to ill-treatment. On 28 July, the HRMMU learned that on 17 June, a watchman of a communal enterprise in Druzhkivka, Donetsk region was detained by the armed groups. They put a bag on his head and beat him. He reportedly remained in custody for 4 days; all this time he was subjected to ill-treatment and forced to confess that he was a supporter of the Right Sector. In late July, two surgeons of the Institute of Emergency and Reconstructive Surgery were detained by an armed group and subjected to harassment including threats of execution by a firing squad. On 15 August, a Ukrainian serviceman released from armed groups’ captivity said that he had spent 17 days in a basement, and was tortured every day. Although the fighting and security operation is ongoing, in the areas where the Government has restored control, it needs to immediately start investigating allegations of allegations of violations of international law by armed groups and Ukrainian forces. Any delay causes further risk that vital evidence will be lost. Meaningful and sustainable reconciliation of communities requires justice for victims, the curbing of impunity and accountability of perpetrators for crimes. III. FREEDOMS OF EXPRESSION, PEACEFUL ASSEMBLY, RELIGION OR BELIEF A. Freedom of expression The media, including social media, has the potential to support efforts for peace building as well as the capacity to incite violence. Therefore, impartial, objective, balanced reporting is important in a situation of conflict. Journalists must be afforded the same protection that international humanitarian law affords to civilians and attacks against journalists exercising their professional activities are prohibited. Physical safety of journalists and other media professionals Abductions, threats, harassment and intimidation of foreign and Ukrainian journalists by armed groups continued to take place in the east of Ukraine. For example, on 19 July, 10 foreign journalists, who had been attempting to report on the MH17 crash, were detained by armed groups in Donetsk. All were released several hours later after interrogation. On 22 July, a CNN freelance journalist and field producer was abducted from the Donbas Palace hotel in Donetsk and accused of being a Ukrainian spy. He was released on 26 July after being severely beaten. On 31 July, two Ukrainian freelance journalists were detained by the armed 207 | P a g e