detention centre was abducted on the same day, when armed groups robbed the centre’s armoury. Reportedly, armed members of the “Right Sector” abducted the Mayor of Kurakhovo and a deputy of the city council on 8 July They later confirmed to the HRMMU that they were questioned about their collaboration with the armed groups in Maryinka, and then were released on 9 July. 42. The length of period for those detained varies considerably – some are held for a few hours, others for several months. In the majority of cases, release depends on factors such as whether there is an exchange of some sort, e.g. money. However, there have also been occasions in the past month of a number of detainees being released without any particular “exchange”. Between 7-13 June, some 32 people were released by the armed groups. However, a pattern emerged that no sooner were some people released than others were detained, reinforcing the opportunistic and resource providing element to the abductions and detentions. 43. In addition to the abductions and detentions of local citizens, there were the cases of the eight monitors (in two separate teams) from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission who were abducted by armed groups in May. All eight were released over a period of a few days in early July. 44. Other cases of detention include the former Mayor of Slovyansk, the current mayor of Mykytivka (a village near Slovyansk), and the head of the Artyomivsk city department of the Ministry of the Interior (MoI), all of whom were detained by armed groups. In a 25 June meeting in Mariupol, the HRMMU learned that the acting Head of the Mariupol city department of the MoI was conducting investigations into “pro-Russian” activities in Mariupol in connection with the 9 May incidents. In addition some activists being detained by Ukrainian law enforcement and voluntary battalions, allegedly committed crimes under Article 258 (Act of terrorism) of the Criminal Code. No clarification has been provided to the HRMMU on the exact whereabouts of those detainees. It was also reported that the Right Sector in coordination with the Ukrainian military had detained a leader of one of the armed groups in the Donetsk region on 25 June. 45. Since 5 June there have been instances when drug users (even those in remission) and people living with HIV/AIDS who, because of their status, have been detained by armed groups. Reportedly, some are being tortured and kept in basements. The relatives of the detained are frequently required to pay a “fine” (ransom) ranging from 200 to 1,000 USD. Many detainees are also forced to “work off their guilt” as forced labour or to fight on the front lines for 15 days. Those who cannot pay the ransom are given the option to “wash off their guilt with blood”; in other words, they are sent to the front lines to fight on the side of the armed groups. Evidently, the armed groups consider these actions to be “prevention measures for drug addicts”. At the same time there were some cases of abduction reported in other regions of Ukraine. For example, a local leader of a Right Sector chapter in IvanoFrankivsk region was reported abducted by unknown persons during the reporting period. Torture and ill-treatment 46. In discussions with the HRMMU following their release, many detainees who were held by armed groups report beatings, ill-treatment, sleep deprivation and very poor conditions while in detention, and forced labour, including digging trenches on the front lines. As an “alternative” to torture and ill-treatment, it was suggested that detainees join the ranks of those fighting for the armed groups. Some, allegedly, are forced to participate in the abduction of other people. The son of a man abducted in Donetsk on 7 July reported that his father had been transferred by the armed groups to Snizhne where about 100 detainees, males aged from 14 to 60 years old, were being held. He said that during the day the 140 | P a g e