Ukrainian journalist asked Putin to release Sushchenko

Russian President Vladimir Putin at his annual press conference was asked to release a Ukrainian correspondent of Ukrinform Roman Sushchenko, UNIAN reports.

"We are doing everything so that the individuals held by both sides were released. The fuller the exchange, the better," Putin said.

Commenting on the detention of Sushchenko and Ukrainian film director Oleh Sentsov, Putin said that "they should be dealing with journalism and film directing."

"Of course, no one has a desire to keep film directors and journalists [under arrest]. But what should we do if the film director - and this has been proven in court - had been preparing to commit terrorist acts? Release him just because he is a film director? How does he different from a military intelligence officer? At first we let the film director go, and then - intelligence officers? So we release these ones, and tomorrow the others will come, right? We need to agree - that should be stopped, and then it will be possible to consider amnesty acts, I have nothing against this," Putin said.

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.