Russian court sentenced journalist Roman Sushchenko to prison

The Moscow City Court in Russia sentenced to 12 years in a strict-regime colony the Ukrainian political prisoner Roman Sushchenko on charges of espionage.

Lawyer Mark Feygin wrote it on Twitter.

«Roman Sushchenko is sentenced. 12 years of strict regime. The complaint will be filed tomorrow,» Feygin wrote.

The prosecution asked for Suschenko for 14 years in prison.

As you know, the information agency Ukrinform French Office correspondent, Roman Sushchenko was detained on September 30, 2016 in Moscow, when he arrived privately.

He was charged with espionage on October 7, 2016. The Russian FSS stated that Sushchenko was an employee from the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. The Ministry of Defense denied this statement.

Roman Suschenko himself does not admit his guilt.

Lawyer Mark Feygin commenting to the website «15 minutes» in February stated that Roman Sushchenko would return home only as a result of political negotiations.

«I do not think that court as an appropriate body to release Roman, return him to his homeland and return his home. The Russian court on political affairs, especially towards Ukrainians, is not the body that gives hopes for resolving the situation and returning these people home. Roman Sushchenko, like other political prisoners, will return only as a result of political negotiations. There will be either exchange or a different form, nevertheless, it is necessary to expect the outcome of precisely these negotiations, but not the courts’ decisions. There is no hope for them,» noticed the lawyer.