Into night out-of 21 September, a group of equipped and you will masked men from inside the Russian or DPR military uniforms started to the newest Ponomaryovs’ family during the vehicles without count dishes. “Viewing new military auto instead amounts, neighbours reach turn out onto the roadway to ascertain just what got happened,” regional Baptists listed on 3 October. “Nonetheless was purchased to go back family and not ahead out.”

The fresh new equipped men stayed regarding the Ponomaryovs’ home for about a few . 5 period. By now it absolutely was black, however, Russian Brides-kreditter “the fresh neighbours extremely heard groans and you will cries” because disguised guys took Leonid and you may Tatyana out “within the a not known guidelines”, local Baptists said.

For the twenty-two September, chapel members tried to find out the whereabouts away from Leonid and you will Tatyana Ponomaryov. “However, neither upcoming nor to your next weeks could it receive any responses,” regional Baptists lamented. A police of the Russian Indoor Ministry informed relatives which they should not care and attention because they might possibly be freed once the new referendum, and that finished towards the twenty-seven September.

Plus on twenty two Sep, authorities of one’s Russian occupation pushes raided and you may checked the fresh new Kurchatov path Baptist Church, overtaking religious literary works and you may sealing the building, local Baptists detailed.

Additional Protestant church buildings – together with one or more most other Council regarding Places of worship Baptist congregation – will still be in a position to satisfy to have worship during the Mariupol. Other Council off Places of worship congregation kept its Gather Event worship solution towards Week-end 2 Oct “despite the recent incidents”, regional Baptists noted.

Chapel players look for forgotten pastor and you can partner

On the 31 Sep, one or two pastors on Russian city of Rostov-on-Don travelled to Mariupol to try to read in which Leonid and Tatyana Ponomaryov are increasingly being stored and why they were captured. Along with Leonid’s sibling Viktor Ponomaryov, it decided to go to brand new DPR State Safeguards Ministry, armed forces head office, Prosecutor’s Workplace and you may cops. “However, whatsoever such organizations it obtained the newest almost identical response: ‘They’re maybe not here and then we have no idea where he’s.'”

The three upcoming visited Donetsk to try to get responses about DPR Interior Ministry and County Coverage Ministry magic police. “Around also they were given equivalent solutions,” local Baptists detailed. The 3 following lodged a written application towards the DPR Interior Ministry. “The application was approved plus they was guaranteed a reply within 30 days.”

Given that around three dudes was in fact back into Mariupol regarding Donetsk, cops phoned them and you will expected them to check out Leonid and you may Tatyana Ponomaryov’s family. Establish in the home was basically numerous detectives. “It requested his brother Viktor and also the neighbors, blogged it off during the brief immediately after which leftover,” regional Baptists told you. Officials got refused to state in the event the friends create get any responses.

“In most the conferences with authorities of various agencies, whenever church users expected them to identify themselves nothing of one’s representatives of your own government will give its identity, score or updates,” church people detailed.

Students interest getting seized mothers

On step 1 October, the latest Ponomaryovs’ college students awarded a statement thanking chapel users to own prayers for their moms and dads. “For 10 months currently we know little about the subject,” they wrote. “A small grouping of chapel participants out of Mariupol and you may Rostov went round the providers and you can associations, not only in Mariupol in the local centre [Donetsk], and you will was in fact informed nothing about our parents anywhere.”

The Ponomaryovs’ children extra you to definitely individuals church buildings was indeed praying because of their mothers and you may accelerated with the 2 and you will step three Oct. They requested advice getting spread extensively.

From inside the good step three October declaration so you can their players and congregations around the world, the latest Internationally Council away from Church buildings required is attractive with the Ponomaryovs to-be delivered “Only of church buildings of Russian Federation”. (END)