Court extends Vyshinsky's arrest until Feb 16

Kherson City Court has extended the arrest of a high treason suspect, chief of RIA Novosti Ukraine Kirill Vyshinsky until February 16, 2019, an Ukrinform correspondent said.

"Having considered the petition for the extension of the term of a preventive measure in the form of detention in relation to suspect Kirill Valeryevich Vyshinsky, the court ruled to satisfy the petition and extend the term of remanding Kirill Valeryevich Vyshinsky in custody until February 16, 2019 inclusive," investigating judge Yaroslav Musulevsky said after reading out the court ruling.

He also noted that the decision of the investigating judge could be appealed.

Vyshinsky's lawyer, Ihor Mokin, told journalists after the court session that Vyshinsky's defense team would file an appeal against the ruling.

On May 15, 2018, the Prosecutor's Office of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Ukraine's SBU Security Service, as part of criminal proceedings on Russia's unleashing the aggressive war in the information sphere in Ukraine and a high treason case, conducted searches in the premises of the editorial office of the RIA Novosti Ukraine news agency, as well as in the homes of persons who organized and ensured its activities.

The investigation helped obtain evidence that information posted on RIA Novosti Ukraine's website contained appeals aimed at undermining the sovereignty, territorial integrity and integrity of Ukraine, state and information security. Editor-in-chief of RIA Novosti Ukraine, Kirill Vyshinsky, was declared a high treason suspect and detained.

Vyshinsky faces up to 15 years in prison if he is found guilty. He denies all accusations.