Russian Ombudswoman Says Vyshinsky Transferred To Cell With Good Detention Conditions

 Russian Ombudswoman Says Vyshinsky Transferred to Cell With Good Detention Conditions

Russian ombudswoman Tatyana Moskalkova said that RIA Novosti Ukraine portal head Kirill Vyshinsky, detained in Ukraine, was transferred to another cell where detention conditions were in line with international rules

MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 21st March, 2019) Russian ombudswoman Tatyana Moskalkova said that RIA Novosti Ukraine portal head Kirill Vyshinsky, detained in Ukraine, was transferred to another cell where detention conditions were in line with international rules.

On Wednesday, the complaint of Vyshinsky's defense about the illegality of his arrest was referred to the joint cassation chamber of the Supreme Court of Ukraine, his lawyer Andriy Domansky told Sputnik.

"Two days ago, he was transferred from a cell where there was no electricity supply or bed sheets to a normal and good cell, where there are five people and all the norms and conditions are in line with international rules," Moskalkova told Rossiya 24 broadcaster late on Wednesday.

The ombudswoman said that Vyshinsky had characterized the cell as rather satisfactory.

Moskalkova continued by praising the fact that during a court hearing on Wednesday, Vyshinsky met with his father, which was the first time they had to spend time together since the journalist's detention last May.

During the time Vyshinsky spent in detention, he has said about his deteriorating health.

"It is very important that after my appeals to the Red Cross, doctors began visiting him. They put him under control and now, his condition is satisfactory," the ombudswoman said.

Moskalkova also noted that Vyshinsky was against his exchange for Ukrainian nationals detained in Russia, saying he sought to receive a fair decision in his case.

"I would like to communicate this to the Ukrainian authorities and rights groups that almost all international organizations that I have addressed provided a negative assessment [of Vyshinsky's case] related to the violation of the journalist's rights. It is a very dangerous precedent which ruins the level of democracy in any country," Moskalkova pointed out.

Moskalkova also noted she had not faced any problems crossing the Ukrainian border to attend a court session in Vyshinsky's case in Kiev on Wednesday.

When asked, if she would visit the United States in the near future, the ombudswoman said she planned to participate in one of the upcoming sessions of the UN General Assembly, devoted to the rights of elderly people.

The issue of her visits of Russian nationals, detained in the United States, including pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko, was being discussed, Moskalkova noted.

Vyshinsky was detained in Kiev on May 15 on suspicions of treason and supporting the breakaway republics in eastern Ukraine. 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 expressed its protest to Kiev, calling on the incumbent authorities to stop their 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 the work of media outlets.