Jailed Journalist Vyshinsky Transferred From Kherson To Kiev - Lawyer

Jailed Journalist Vyshinsky Transferred From Kherson to Kiev - Lawyer

RIA Novosti portal head Kirill Vyshinsky, who has been in Ukrainian custody since May 2018, was transferred from Kherson to the Ukrainian capital of Kiev, Vyshinsky's lawyer Andriy Domansky told Sputnik on Monday

MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 18th March, 2019) RIA Novosti portal head Kirill Vyshinsky, who has been in Ukrainian custody since May 2018, was transferred from Kherson to the Ukrainian capital of Kiev, Vyshinsky's lawyer Andriy Domansky told Sputnik on Monday.

"He was brought here on Thursday and has been here for four days. But it was the weekend, and I have reached him only today. I have just left him, he is now in the Lukyanovka pre-trial detention center [in Kiev]," Domansky said, adding that Vyshinsky was being held in deplorable detention conditions that could cause health problems of the detainee.

According to Domansky, the possibility of filing a complaint about the conditions of the journalist's detention is currently being studied.

Earlier in the month, Domansky said that the Supreme Court of Ukraine would hear the complaint of Vyshinsky against his arrest on March 20. Moreover, the first hearing of the journalist's case would be held on March 26 in Kiev's district court.

Vyshinsky was detained in Kiev on May 15 on suspicion of supporting the breakaway republics in eastern Ukraine and treason. The journalist could face up to 15 years in prison with these charges. Earlier in March, the Kherson Appeals Court in Ukraine rejected an appeal by Vyshinsky's defense regarding the illegality of extending the journalist's arrest until April 8.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Vyshinsky's arrest was politically motivated, adding that the incident demonstrated an unprecedented and unacceptable policy of Ukrainian authorities targeting journalists doing their jobs. The Russian Foreign Ministry has protested to Kiev, calling on the incumbent authorities to stop the crackdown on media.

Harlem Desir, the representative on freedom of the media at the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), has also expressed his concern over Ukraine's actions toward Vyshinsky and called for the journalist's release. Commenting on the situation, OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger has said that all OSCE member states should comply with international standards and avoid interfering in media's work.