Reporters Without Borders calls on Russia to release journalist Roman Sushchenko

Christian Mihr, the Executive Director of the Reporters Without Borders Germany, said this in a commentary to an Ukrinform correspondent in Berlin.

"On World Press Freedom Day, the Reporters Without Borders calls on the Russian government to immediately release Roman Sushchenko, who has been held in a Moscow prison for seven months without a due trial," Mihr said.

He stressed that Sushchenko is a hostage of the conflict between the two countries, which makes journalists to carry out their professional activities under pressure.

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.

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

November 28, the Lefortovsky District Court of Moscow extended pre-trial detention term of Ukrinform correspondent Roman Sushchenko until January 30, 2017.

January 25, the Lefortovsky District Court of Moscow extended pre-trial detention term of Ukrinform correspondent Roman Sushchenko until April 30, 2017.

April 26, the Lefortovsky District Court of Moscow extended pre-trial detention term of Sushchenko until June 30, 2017.

The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry confirmed that Ukrinform correspondent Roman Sushchenko is not a staff employee of the Defense Intelligence.

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

ol