Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union (UHHRU) has recorded about 110 facts of hostage-taking and abuse, including about 30 cases involving civilians from Donetsk and Lugansk regions. The overwhelming number of cases are relating to the facts of ill-treatment and torture, as well as the facts of hostage-taking in order to further their redemption or exchange. Today UHHRU may present the following "typical" cases in this sphere. April 25, 2014, Slavyansk. During a visit to the city as a tourist gr.Ch. was arrested together with his friend on the street by two armed men allegedly "by order of the mayor." They were delivered to the Region Security Service building, where they were accused of organizing the protests on the "Right Sector�. In the compound one of the guards had stabbed gr.Ch. with bayonet of his Kalashnikov rifle in the forearm, deeply wounding and causing heavy bleeding. Then the same person had hit gr.Ch. with a rifle butt on the head and then was beating him while he had been lying down. Unknown persons also poured boiling water on gr.Ch.’ head and set fire to his hair. During further questioning gr.Ch. got another 26 blows with a rifle butt, was beaten with a whip and legs. The beatings had been accompanied by the threat of execution. As a result of the beatings one rib of gr.Ch. was broken to 21.00 h. on the same day. Gr.Ch. with a friend, handcuffed, with eyes and mouth sealed by Scotch tape, had been placed at the evening in the basement of the Regional Security Service building, where had been about six people who were held as hostage. For two days the victims were forbidden to go to bed, sleep or walk, and the unknown persons had come into the basement, regularly beating them. During his staying in hostage gr.Ch. had lost weight 10 kg, has received multiple injuries and limb contusion of the femoral nerve. He was released on July 4, 2014 during the capture Slavyansk under control of the Ukrainian side.