Ambassador of the French Republic to Ukraine Isabelle Dumont told Kyiv reporters that her country takes seriously the situation with the arrest in the Russian Federation of a Ukrainian journalist Roman Sushchenko who has worked in France for several years as an Ukrinform correspondent.
”Sushchenko is a journalist, whom we know very well … He is well-known in Paris, since he was accredited by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a frequent guest at press conferences at the ministry. Therefore, we are monitoring [the situation] very closely and actively,” said the ambassador.
However, Isabelle Dumont noted she could not disclose any details to the journalists, adding: ”I can say that we take this seriously.”
As UNIAN reported earlier, on September 30 the Federal Security Service (FSB) of the Russian Federation detained in Moscow an Ukrinform correspondent Roman Sushchenko, labeling him a Ukrainian intelligence officer who allegedly ”deliberately collected classified information on the activities of the armed forces and the national guard of the Russian Federation”.
Roman Sushchennko has been officially charged with espionage.
Lefortovo court in Moscow ruled to arrest the journalist until November 30.
All court hearings in Sushchenko case are held behind closed doors.
On October 27, Moscow City Court upheld the initial ruling on Sushchenko arrest.
