NBC News | The Huffington Post
CBS News correspondent Clarissa Ward and BuzzFeed correspondent Mike Giglio were among the journalists detained at checkpoints in Ukraine Friday. Both were released with all members of their parties, and both reported some violence: Ward said a CBS crewmember was beaten, and Giglio said one journalist got punched twice. (He also said his captors asked him to prove he’s American by saying the word “garden.”) Sky News reporters were also detained, Jack Mirkinson reports in The Huffington Post. Tweets from Ward and Giglio tell similar tales:
Stopped and diverted at Slovyansk checkpoint by pro-Russian activists. They’re waiting for orders- send us to prison or let us proceed
— Clarissa Ward (@clarissaward) May 2, 2014
We’ve been released.
— Clarissa Ward (@clarissaward) May 2, 2014
One of our crew was beaten but we are all ok. Thanks for concern
— Clarissa Ward (@clarissaward) May 2, 2014
Most surreal moment of detention was when young guy played “Eye of the Tiger”- I pointed out that it was American music and they turned off
— Clarissa Ward (@clarissaward) May 2, 2014
Released and safe in Donetsk. My deep gratitude for all the outreach and concern.
— Mike Giglio (@mike_giglio) May 2, 2014
All the journalists and crew taken with me, including my brave translator Lena, are released and safely back in Donetsk as well.
— Mike Giglio (@mike_giglio) May 2, 2014
We were taken from a pro-Russia checkpoint en route to Slovyansk, blindfolded and held at occupied police building. The ordeal took 3 hours.
— Mike Giglio (@mike_giglio) May 2, 2014
All unharmed, aside from one journo punched twice. Got everything back except flak jacket + helmet: “something for us to remember you by.”
— Mike Giglio (@mike_giglio) May 2, 2014
Once they decided to release us — and a translator overheard talk of taking us hostage — the pro-Russia militiamen politely served us tea.
— Mike Giglio (@mike_giglio) May 2, 2014
Blindfolded on drive to where pro-Russia militia held us, but heard them cock guns as we approached their own checkpoints–internal mistrust
— Mike Giglio (@mike_giglio) May 2, 2014
To prove that I am an American citizen I was asked to name the U.S. capital and then to pronounce the word “garden.” I passed this test.
— Mike Giglio (@mike_giglio) May 2, 2014
Our detention today seemed to be motivated by fear and panic from the pro-Russia militiamen as much as anything else. They were very spooked
— Mike Giglio (@mike_giglio) May 2, 2014
Asked captors if I could get my flak + helmet back. They actually suggested I call them when the war’s over and “we don’t need them anymore”
— Mike Giglio (@mike_giglio) May 2, 2014
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