Authorities Confirm Moldovan Journalist Detention On Espionage Charges

The Moldovan Embassy in Kyiv has confirmed that Ukrainian authorities have detained Moldovan citizen Semion Niculin on suspicion of espionage.

The "Kommersant-Ukraine" newspaper reported on August 7 that the Ukrainian special services detained Niculin, a citizen of Moldova and a former employee of state news agency Moldpres, in Odesa on April 13.

He is now reportedly being detained in Kyiv.

The Moldovan Embassy said negotiations were being conducted with the Ukrainian authorities to free Niculin.

At the time of his detention, Niculin, 38, worked for the press center of the Unified Control Commission, a three-party body directing the peacekeeping operation in Moldova's separatist region of Transdniester.

Moldovan media reports say Niculin was arrested while attempting to obtain secret documents from a Ukrainian citizen in Odesa.

No further details were immediately available.

Based on reporting by Interfax and Unimedia.md