The Kremlin Dmitry Peskov, on Friday, said that RIA Novosti Ukraine portal Head, Kirill Vyshinsky, detained in Ukraine, must be released immediately.

He said: “This is not an issue for swaps but a violation of press freedom principles’’.

UNIAN news agency correspondent, Roman Tsimbalyuk, asked Peskov why Russia did not want to exchange Vyshinsky for Ukrainian journalist Roman Sushchenko.

In June, the Moscow City Court sentenced Sushchenko to 12 years in prison for espionage, he did not plead guilty.

Later, Russia’s Supreme Court approved the verdict, after which it came into force.

“Because we believe that Vyshinsky must be immediately released.

“This is not an issue for any exchanges, it is a direct violation of all international rules in general.

“It is a violation of the principle of freedom of the press, for in fact he was arrested for journalistic activities,’’ Peskov said.

“The fact is that Vyshinsky was actually arrested for journalistic activities; his activity in Ukraine was in no way different, for example, from what you do in Moscow.

“We welcome that you are in Moscow and you know that your work in Moscow does not meet with any restrictions.’’ (Sputnik/NAN)

– Nov. 2, 2018 @ 12:35 GMT |