Embassy of Ukraine in USA calls on international community to help free Sushchenko
The relevant statement was posted on the official website of the diplomatic representative office, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.
“Sushchenko’s case is a further evidence of Russia’s attacks against Ukrainian freedom of speech and violation of journalists’ rights,” reads the statement.
In this regard, the embassy reminded of statement on this situation made by US Congressman Marcy Kaptur.
“Freedom of the press is a fundamental principle of democracy, transparency, and the rule of law. The wrongful treatment of journalists like Roman Sushchenko is part of a larger trend of politically-motivated persecution and violation of fundamental human rights by Russian authorities. We join the international community in calling for their [journalists’] swift release,” stated US Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur.
The Embassy of Ukraine in the USA called on the US official representatives, international human rights organizations, wide journalists’ community “to take all possible measures to expedite the release and return to Ukraine of Roman Sushchenko as well as all Ukrainian political prisoners illegally detained in Russia.”
As reported, Ukrinform's 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 said that Sushchenko is a member of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry. The latter denied this allegation.
The Moscow City Court on June 4 sentenced Sushchenko to 12 years of imprisonment in a high-security penitentiary for alleged espionage. The Supreme Court of Russia upheld the verdict on September 12.
iy