The League for the Fifth International today received this statement from Borotba. We call on all revolutionary, anti-imperialist and anti-fascist forces and organisations to support Borotba's appeal and to circulate the statement as widely as possible.

Ukrainian opposition politicians and leftist political activists Maxim Firsov, Victor Shapinov and Maria Muratova are missing in Donetsk. At around 15.00 on December 21, the Borotbists were kidnapped by unknown persons. The kidnappers introduced themselves as members of Battalion “Vostok.”

According to the information available to us, the comrades are being held together with captured Ukrainian soldiers in the commandant's office on Elevatornaya Street in Donetsk city.

Communists Shapinov, Firsov and Muratova have fought all their lives against the Ukrainian ultra-nationalists and oligarchs, and were persecuted in Kiev and Odessa for their stance against the Ukrainian authorities.

Today Battalion “Vostok” accepted a plan, issuing from the Ukrainian side, to exchange a Ukrainian reconnaissance and sabotage group for imprisoned members of the people's militia.

If our comrades fall into the hands of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), they face repression in the dungeons of the Kiev junta. There is a threat of death from Ukrainian fascist-militants.

We appeal to Donetsk People's Republic Prime Minister, Alexander Vladimirovich Zakharchenko, Denis Pushilin, Battalion “Vostok” Commander Alexander Sergeyevich Khodakovsky, Boris A. Litvinov, and Dr. Andrei Purgin to intervene in the situation and take measures to release the anti-fascists Victor Shapinov, Maxim Firsov and Maria Muratova.
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