The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine expresses its absolute protest regarding the Moscow City Court’s ruling as of November 27, 2017, to extend the custodial term of Ukrainian journalist Roman Sushchenko, who is illegally detained in Russia under fabricated charges, for another two-month term until January 30, 2018.

The Court once again rejected defense’s request to change Roman Sushchenko’sprecautionary measure for non-custodial, which proves a continued pressure and prejudication of Russian judicial organs.   

Purposeful political character of case against Roman Sushchenko confirmed by theclosed judgement session, as well as denial to grant access for a consular officer to participate in the session as public defender in accordance with the Criminal Procedure Code of the Russian Federation. 

Ukraine calls upon the international community, international human rights institutions and the OSCE Representative on Freedom of Media to take all appropriate legal and political actions to release and return Ukrainian citizen and journalist Roman Sushchenko to Ukraine.