The sentence handed down to journalist Roman Sushchenko, who was convicted for 12 years in a maximum-security penal colony for espionage in Russia, provides an opportunity for exchanging him for RIA Novosti Ukraine editor-in-chief Kirill Vyshinsky, Sushchenko’s defender Mark Feygin said.

“Now, after the sentence was read, opportunities have been opened for exchanging Roman Sushchenko for journalist Vyshinsky, who is being prosecuted in Ukraine, and I believe it must be done immediately in order to resolve this issue by means of a compromise,” Feygin told reporters on Monday.