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A Ukrainian nationalist website has published an e-mail archive that contains copies of identification cards and personal information about Ukrainian and international journalists.

The new leak, which allegedly comes from a disenchanted separatist official, was published on August 4.

It contains thousands of e-mails -- including some e-mails that contain photographs and copies of journalists' travel identification.

On August 3, Anton Herashchenko, an adviser to Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov, praised the website, Myrotvorets, saying it has become an electronic mass-media resource.

Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Information Policy Tetyana Popova, who spoke strongly against the website, announced her resignation on August 3 to protest what she said were attacks on journalists and freedom of speech.

The Myrotvorets online project had raised concerns about the safety of journalists in May when it leaked names and contact information for thousands of correspondents who have reported from parts of Ukraine that are controlled by Russia-backed separatists.

The website claimed it was targeting enemies of Ukraine -- “because these journalists collaborate with fighters from terrorist organizations.”

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko condemned the May leak, but Myrotvorets was never closed.

Based on reporting by AP, Kyiv Post, and RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service


The Russian military has charged that Syrian militants used a toxic agent against civilians in Aleppo, killing seven and sickening another 23 people.

The head of Russian military's Reconciliation Center at the Hemeimeem air base in Syria, Lieutenant General Sergei Chvarkov, said on August 3 that the rebels struck a residential area in eastern Aleppo with a toxic agent.

Chvarkov didn't identify the substance used in the attack, which he said occurred on August 2, but he said the victims suffocated or suffered lung burns.

Chvarkov said the attack was launched by Nour el-Deine Zengi, a militant group he said had been considered by the United States as part of the moderate opposition.

He said the Russian military had informed the United States about the incident.

Nour el-Deine Zengi didn't immediately issue a response to the allegations.

The Russian claim came a day after the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported 24 people suffered breathing difficulties in rebel-held Saraqeb, a town south of Aleppo, after a barrel-bomb attack.

Residents said chlorine gas had been used in the attack.

Based on reporting by AP, AFP, and Interfax

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"Watchdog" is a blog with a singular mission -- to monitor the latest developments concerning human rights, civil society, and press freedom. We'll pay particular attention to reports concerning countries in RFE/RL's broadcast region.

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