Polish priest abducted in Ukraine is released

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland’s Foreign Ministry says that a Polish Catholic priest who was abducted in Donetsk in eastern Ukraine has been released.

The priest, Pawel Witek, was reported missing Tuesday noon, after he failed to show up for prayers in Donetsk.

Marcin Wojciechowski, spokesman for Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski, said Wednesday that the “abducted priest” was “free, safe and sound” and under Polish diplomats’ care. Poland’s consul general in Donetsk, Jakub Wolasiewicz, had worked to obtain his release.

Poland’s news agency PAP quoted a Polish bishop in Ukraine, Jan Sobilo, as saying Witek was held at the security service building which was under the control of the separatists.

The Foreign Ministry advised Poles against traveling to eastern Ukraine, where government forces are battling pro-Russian separatists.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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