Mark Feygin says Roman Sushchenko may be exchanged for Viktor Pavlenko

Mark Feygin, the lawyer of illegally arrested Ukrinform journalist Roman Sushchenko, says he expects that the Kremlin may agree to exchange his client for Viktor Pavlenko, arrested in Rivne on October 8. 

“I’ve just visited Sushchenko in Lefortovo. So, we expect that the Kremlin may agree to exchange Sushchenko for Viktor Pavlenko, arrested in Rivne on October 9, 2016,” Feygin wrote on Twitter.

As reported, Ukrinform correspondent in France Roman Sushchenko was arrested in Moscow on September 30, where he arrived on a private visit. He was accused of “espionage”, allegedly being a member of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry. The Ukrainian Main Intelligence Directorate denied allegations of the Russian Federal Security Service.

The Russian court ruled at its closed hearing on October 1 to arrest the journalist for two months – until November 30.

On October 7, the Russian Federation officially charged the Ukrainian journalist with spying. Sushchenko denies any guilt.

Roman Sushchenko works with the Ukrainian National News Agency Ukrinform since 2002 and is agency’s own correspondent in France since 2010.

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