The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine expresses strong protest regarding decision of the Moscow City Court to dismiss a petition of appeal of a lawyer of illegally detained in Russia citizen of Ukraine Roman Sushchenko in relation to the decision of the Lefortovo District Court in the city of Moscow dated October 1, 2016 on the arrest of the Ukrainian national.

Groundless detention of the journalist of the National News Agency of Ukraine in the Russian Federation under politically motivated and fabricated charges in espionage has become another notorious evidence of absence in this country of the legal system and the right for a fair justice.

Denial of access to the court room of the Ukrainian consular official causes a particular indignation. This is another evidence of Russia’s biased and unfair court.

We demand from the Russian side to immediately release Roman Sushchenko and other citizens of Ukraine who have become hostages of Russia’s aggressive policy and to ensure their return to Ukraine.