The Moscow City Court pronounced the verdict in the case of illegally detained Ukrinform journalist Roman Sushchenko. He has been sentenced to 12 years in a high-security penal colony.

This was announced by journalist's public defender Mark Feygin.

On May 28, Sushchenko said in his final statement in the Moscow City Court that he did not recognize the guilt and asked for acquittal.

Russian prosecutors asked the court to imprison Sushchenko for 14 years.

As reported, Paris-based Ukrinform correspondent Roman Sushchenko was detained in violation of international rules on September 30, 2016 in Moscow, where he arrived on a private visit.

On October 7, he was charged with "espionage." Russia's FSB claimed that Sushchenko is a member of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry. The latter denied this allegation.

ol