Russian ombudswoman Tatiana Moskalkova told Sputnik on Thursday she would send a new letter to international institutions, including the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), over the detention of RIA Novosti Ukraine portal head Kirill Vyshinsky
STRASBOURG (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 28th March, 2019) Russian ombudswoman Tatiana Moskalkova told Sputnik on Thursday she would send a new letter to international institutions, including the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), over the detention of RIA Novosti Ukraine portal head Kirill Vyshinsky.
The statement comes after Kiev's Podolsky court ruled earlier this week to extend Vyshinsky's arrest until May 24.
"I will re-submit the appeal to [UN High Commissioner for Human Rights] Michelle Bachelet. I will continue referring to the Council of Europe, namely to Dunja Mijatovic, the Council of Europe commissioner for human rights. We are in constant contact with the Red Cross, I am asking them to continue monitoring his health and the conditions of his custodial detention," Moskalkova said.
Vyshinsky was detained in Kiev on May 15 on suspicion of supporting the breakaway republics of Donbas and treason. Given the charges, the journalist may face up to 15 years in prison. During a court hearing, Vyshinsky asked for help from Russian President Vladimir Putin. He also said that he would give up his Ukrainian citizenship.
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 said that all OSCE member states should comply with international standards and avoid interfering in the media's work.
