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Photo from Ukrinform–UATV
The United States is calling for the immediate release of illegally-convicted journalist Roman Sushchenko and other Ukrainian political prisoners in Russia, Heather Nauert, spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State, wrote on Twitter.
The United States calls for the immediate release of Ukrainian journalist Roman Sushchenko and all Ukrainian political prisoners held by #Russia. #FreeSushchenko #FreeSentsov
— Ned Price (@StateDeptSpox) June 8, 2018
On June 4, a Moscow City Court sentenced Ukrainian Sushchenko to 12 years of imprisonment in a high-security prison.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said that Russia will be punished for its actions.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine said that the case is politically motivated and demands Sushchenko’s release.
Sushchenko, who was Ukrinform’s correspondent in France, was detained in violation of international rules on Sept. 30, 2016, in Moscow, where he was on a private trip.
On October 7, he was charged with “espionage.” The Russian Federal Security Service claimed that Sushchenko is a member of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry. The latter denied this allegation.
