KIEV, Ukraine, July 28 (UPI) -- A Ukrainian feminist group says three of its members and a photographer were kidnapped shortly before a protest in Kiev, but police say they were arrested.

The alleged kidnapping of activists Oksana Shashko, Alexander Shevchenko and Yana Zhdanova, as well as photographer Dmitry Kostyukov happened Saturday in Kiev, RIA Novosti reported.


The feminist group Femen -- which calls itself "sextremist" -- said the four were "severely" beaten and forced into a vehicle. The group said the kidnapping was organized by Russian and Ukrainian security services to prevent the group's topless protest scheduled for later that day.

Police said the three women, all of whom were topless, and the man were arrested for "petty hooliganism" and disobeying police orders.