Ukrainian diplomats in UN: Sushchenko held in captivity for 950 days
The mission wrote this on its Twitter account on May 7.
"After more than 500 days in jail in Myanmar, Reuters reporters Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo freed now. Huge victory for those defending the freedom of speech. Today is the 950th day that Roman Sushchenko, UKRINFORM reporter, spends in prison in Russia. The battle is not over yet," Ukrainian diplomats said.
After more than 500 days in jail in Myanmar, @Reuters reporters Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo freed now. Huge victory for those defending the freedom of speech.
— UKR Mission to UN (@UKRinUN) 7 мая 2019 г.
Today is the 950th day that Roman Sushchenko, @UKRINFORM reporter, spends in prison in Russia. The battle is not over yet. pic.twitter.com/qI76CAf3vj
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 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, the Russian Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) informed Ukraine's Embassy in Moscow that Sushchenko had been transferred to Penal Colony No. 11 of the FSIN directorate for the Kirov region (the town of Kirovo-Chepetsk, the village of Utrobino).
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