According to reports of the so-called “General Prosecutor’s Office of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR)”, in August Aseev received a 15-year prison sentence on charges of extremism, espionage and public calls for an encroachment on the “DPR’s” territorial integrity.

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Arlem Desir, made a statement demanding the release of the journalist:

“I strongly denounce the imprisonment of Stanislav Aseev and I am shocked by his completely illegal conviction and sentencing to 15 years in jail. I reiterate that he must be released immediately,” Désir said.

Dezir also called for the release of blogger and journalist Oleh Galazyuk, who has been held captive by the DPR since August 2017:

“Aseev and Halaziuk were among the very few independent journalists who worked and reported from the non-government controlled area of Donetsk region. The silencing of independent journalists is a crime against the freedom of expression and it is unacceptable,” Désir said. “I again call on all OSCE participating States to increase pressure on any relevant actors to release both Aseev and Halaziuk.”

Source: OSCE