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Ukraine crisis: Polish priest released by separatists

PR dla Zagranicy
Nick Hodge 27.07.2014 11:48
An ethnically Polish priest who was abducted on 15 July by pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine has been released.

Armed
Armed separatists man a checkpoint some 50 kilometres from the city of Donetsk, Ukraine. Photo: EPA/Igor Kovalenko

“Father Wiktor Wasowicz is free,” confirmed the Roman Catholic Auxiliary Bishop of Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia Jan Sobilo on his Facebook page.

“He was freed on Saturday night following successful negotiations.”

The 39-year-old priest had been stopped at a check-point in the city of Horlivka, south east Ukraine, on 15 July, while trying to enter the city.

The clergyman, who was born and raised in Ukraine, had travelled to the city from Donetsk, and was due to carry out a mass in Horlivka.

Roman Catholicism and Greek Catholicism are minority faiths in the largely Orthodox region, and Father Wasowicz is the third priest to be kidnapped by pro-Russian separatists in recent weeks. Besides Wasowicz, one Roman Catholic and one Greek Catholic priest were abducted, although both were subsequently released. (nh)

Source: KAI

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