Poroshenko awards Order for Courage to Roman Sushchenko

President Petro Poroshenko has awarded an Order for Courage to Ukrinform journalist Roman Sushchenko, who is unlawfully convicted in Russia.

Poroshenko handed over the order to journalist’s wife Anzhela Sushchenko during a special meeting dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Ukrinform in Kyiv on Tuesday.

"I present the award to Roman Sushchenko for his courage, for heroism, for true patriotism, who will definitely be included into history textbooks," said Poroshenko.

As reported, Ukrinform Paris-based correspondent Roman Sushchenko was illegally detained on September 30, 2016 in Moscow, where he arrived on a private trip.

On October 7, 2016, 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 June 4, 2018, the Moscow City Court sentenced Sushchenko to 12 years in a high-security penal colony. The Supreme Court of Russia upheld the verdict on September 12.

On November 7, Sushchenko was convoyed to a maximum security penal colony in Kirov region.

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