Ukraine’s consul has yet to receive permission from the Russian side to visit arrested Ukrainian journalist Roman Sushchenko, who is a correspondent of Ukrinform, the country’s national news agency, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mariana Betsa said.
“We have met all the procedural requirements, submitting a note, as well as an application containing the demand to immediately facilitate access. There has been no reaction so far on their part, but we continue to press on them, because we need to learn all the details of the detention and talk to Roman himself in order to provide consular assistance,” Betsa told Interfax-Ukraine on October 4.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry continues to work with international partners on this matter, she added.
Sushchenko was detained in Moscow on charges of “espionage.” The Moscow Lefortovsky Court on October 1 ordered his two-month arrest. Kyiv said that the detention was an act of provocation and the accusations of spying were groundless. Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry also said it advises Ukrainian citizens against travelling to Russia.
