European Alliance of News Agencies calls on Russia to explain extension of Sushchenko’s arrest
This has been said in a statement of the EANA, which was sent to Ukrinform and signed by its President Jonas Eriksson and Secretary General Erik Nylen.
"The Board of the European Alliance of News Agencies (EANA) repeats its concern regarding the detention of Ukrainian journalist Roman Sushchenko... Russian authorities must release more details explaining the detention of Roman Sushchenko. If trustworthy evidence against him cannot immediately be presented, he should be released and allowed to return to his home country," reads a statement.
The European Alliance of News Agencies (EANA) was founded in 1956, and today it includes more than 30 leading agencies in Europe. Ukrinform represents Ukraine in the EANA since 1995.
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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