aware of other similar cases and is concerned about cases of detention that appear to be politically motivated or may constitute a measure of reprisals. The HRMMU has also observed that some judges overlook procedural irregularities in the arrest and detention of individuals suspected of “anti-Ukrainian” activities. In one of the southern regions of Ukraine, for example, senior law enforcement officials stated that prounity (or pro-Maidan) activists were considered “heroes” and Ukrainian patriots and were given “immunity” from being arrested or prosecuted. In the Lviv region, on 12 August, traffic police detained seven members of the Right Sector (pro-Ukraine) who were driving from the security operation area to the Zakarpattia region carrying a large number of rifles, shells and explosives. Although a criminal investigation was opened for illegal possession of weapons, the suspects were released later that day. Detention by the armed groups D. Estimates vary concerning the number of people detained by armed groups, although the numbers are coherent in scale and reflect the constantly evolving pattern of detentions and releases. According to the adviser to the Minister of Internal Affairs, as of mid-August, some 1,026 people have been abducted or detained by armed groups since mid-April, and of these, 468 people were still missing. Victims come from all walks of life: police, servicemen, border guards and security personnel; journalists; judges, advocates and prosecutors; local executives, city and regional council officials; politicians and civil activists; volunteers involved in humanitarian action; and many persons not affiliated to any of the warring parties and who were not engaged in any public activity. The HRMMU has been following the cases of 510 people who have been abducted or detained by armed groups since mid-April. Of these, 200 have been released, 9 people are dead (some having visible signs of torture), 301 are still in the captivity of armed groups, of whom 293 are men and 8 are women. Negotiations on an exchange of detainees with the armed groups mostly involve a swap for Ukrainian servicemen. On 14 August, Ukrainian military reported that 13 Ukrainian servicemen had been released from the captivity of the armed groups. The number of members of the armed groups released in this exchange is not known. On 15 August, the President of Ukraine met with 25 people released from captivity by the armed groups. During this swap, according to one of the people released, 26 Ukrainians were released in exchange to 27 members of the armed groups. On 17 August, the Kharkiv regional state administration announced that five Ukrainian servicemen were released that day. According to the adviser to the Minister of Defence on the release of captives and hostages, who himself spent 88 days in captivity of the armed groups, Ukrainian military personnel (who comprise on average 10-15% of all people in captivity of the armed groups)130 are kept separately from civilians, usually in decent conditions and treated according to the “rules of war” and “officers dignity”. According to him, other detainees are usually kept in basements and in very poor conditions. Their release almost entirely depends on the efforts of relatives, civil activists and international organizations. Examples of detentions by the armed groups include the detention of a policeman and his father, a retired policeman, by the armed groups in Donetsk on 19 July. The alleged reason was that the police officer did not take an oath of loyalty to the armed groups. As of 11 August, their whereabouts were unknown. On 21 July, 29 employees of the Spetselektrobud Company were abducted by armed groups in Donetsk on their way to the Russian Federation, reportedly for “betrayal of the Fatherland”, and urged to join the armed groups. According to support of the 9 May “referendum”. She also said her arrest by SBU was “extremely brutal” with the officer beating her violently. 130 Calculated by the HRMMU on the basis of statistics on people abducted or detained by the armed groups as of 18 July and as of 6 August provided to the HRMMU by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. 206 | P a g e