Court extends arrest of Sushchenko for another three months

The Lefortovsky District Court of Moscow has extended pre-trial detention term of Ukrinform correspondent Roman Sushchenko until April 30, 2017, UNIAN reports.

Before the hearing Sushchenko thanked his familyб Ukrinform stuff and all unindifferent for the support. "All is well with me, I feel fine, everything will be fine. I love you," - Sushchenko said.

The journalist also said that he received letters from the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko and Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin, which states that they are doing everything necessary for his release.
"The content of these letters gives strength to rely on optimistic decisions in the future. I would like to thank them for their help and effort they are making to solve the case in a positive way,"- Sushchenko said.

Hennadiy Breskalenko, Consul of Ukraine, attended the court session and gave the court a letter on behalf of Ukraine temporarily attorney in Russia - Ruslan Nimchynsky. In the letter, Nimchinsky states that the embassy is ready to place Sushchenko in a guest house, on the territory of the embassy in case Sushchenko will be transfer to house arrest.
In addition, the embassy guarantee to convoy Sushchenko to investigators and judicial authorities of the Russian Federation.

It was a closed judicial session. Journalists presented in the room only at the beginning of the hearing and during the verdict. In such a manner, defense motion to hold a public meeting was rejected, though the subject of the court was the continuation of detention, and not the merits of the case, which is a "state secret."

As IMI informed, Ukrinform stated that their correspondent in France Roman Sushchenko was arrested in Moscow and accused of “espionage” on Sept.30. 

FSB labeling him as a Ukrainian intelligence officer who allegedly deliberately collected classified information on activities of the armed forces and the national guard of the Russian Federation. There is a criminal case on espionage charges (Article 276 of the Russian Criminal Code), the investigation is currently underway.

The Moscow Lefortovo Court resolved on Nov. 28 to extend the arrest of Sushchenko until the 30th of January 2017.