Sushchenko does not admit guilt - lawyer

Moscow City Court is holding a preliminary hearing in the case of Ukrinform correspondent Roman Sushchenko, who was illegally arrested in Moscow. He does not admit his guilt.

The journalist's lawyer, Mark Feygin, wrote this on Twitter.

"Roman Sushchenko has not admitted his guilt in full," Feygin said.

The Sushchenko case is classified. Preliminary hearings in such cases are always held behind closed doors.

As reported, Ukrinform's correspondent in France, Roman Sushchenko, was detained in violation of international rules on September 30, 2016 in Moscow, where he arrived on a private trip.

On October 7, he was charged with "espionage." Russia's FSB claimed that Sushchenko is a member of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry. The latter denied this allegation.

On January 24, 2018, Moscow City Court extended the term of Sushchenko's detention in custody for two months - until March 30, 2018. 

op