Court arrests RIA Novosti Ukraine chief for two months

The Kherson City Court has detained the chief of the RIA Novosti Ukraine news agency, Kyrylo Vyshynsky, who is suspected of high treason, for two months, until July 13 inclusive, without the right to post bail, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

"The court considers that it is necessary to choose the measure of restraint in the form of detention in relation to the suspect. When choosing the measure of restraint, the investigating judge considers it necessary not to assign the amount of the bail... On the basis of the abovementioned... the investigating judge decided to satisfy the petition to apply to suspect Kyrylo Valeriyovych Vyshynsky the measure of restraint in the form of detention. The term of validity of the ruling on the selection of the measure of restraint has been set until July 13, 2018 inclusive," reads a court ruling, which was read out on May 17 by Judge Yaroslav Musulevsky, who considered this case.

As reported, on May 15, the Prosecutor's Office of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU), as part of criminal proceedings on Russia's unleashing an aggressive war in the information sphere concerning Ukraine and high treason, conducted searches in the editorial office and press center of the RIA Novosti Ukraine news agency, as well as in the homes of persons who organized and ensured its activity.

Evidence was obtained as a result of investigatory actions that the information posted on RIA Novosti Ukraine's website contained calls aimed at undermining the sovereignty, territorial integrity and integrity of Ukraine, state and information security. RIA Novosti Ukraine head Kyrylo Vyshynsky was declared a suspect in high treason and detained.

On May 16, Vyshynsky was taken from Kyiv to Kherson, where the Prosecutor's Office of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea is located.

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