31/01/2014 16:56
Ukraine activist says he was abducted and tortured
A leading activist in Ukraine's street opposition who vanished for eight days says he was abducted and tortured before being left to die in the cold, the BBC reports.
Dmytro Bulatov, who organised car protests for the opposition camped out in Kiev, is being treated in hospital after being found near the capital.
Police have confirmed Mr Bulatov, 35, received an ear injury and bruising.
In another development, the army called on President Viktor Yanukovych to take "urgent steps" to ease the crisis.
Three protesters and three police officers have been killed, and scores injured on both sides, since the protests turned violent on 22 January.
Mr Bulatov says he was left to die by his captors after being kidnapped, repeatedly beaten and "crucified." He was, he said, hung up by his wrists.
"They crucified me, so there are holes in my hands now," he said.
"Other than that - they cut off my ear, cut up my face. My whole body is a mess. You can see everything. I am alive. Thank God for this."
The activist reportedly said he did not know who had abducted him but his abductors had spoken with Russian accents.
According to the Ukrainian news website Gazeta.ua, doctors found no damage to his internal organs or his skull.
Police in Kiev have confirmed Mr Bulatov was bruised and received a cut to one of his ears, Ukrainian newspaper Ukrainskaya Pravda reports.
They have opened an investigation and posted guards at the hospital where he is being treated.