Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Desir will intensify efforts to free jailed RIA Novosti Ukraine portal head Kirill Vyshinsky after the presidential election in Ukraine, Russian Permanent Representative to the OSCE Alexander Lukashevich told Sputnik on Wednesday
VIENNA (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 03rd April, 2019) Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Desir will intensify efforts to free jailed RIA Novosti Ukraine portal head Kirill Vyshinsky after the presidential election in Ukraine, Russian Permanent Representative to the OSCE Alexander Lukashevich told Sputnik on Wednesday."We are constantly updating our requirements for Desir and the OSCE in general to pay serious attention to this. In our last correspondence Desir said that he would step up his efforts to release our journalist after the [presidential] election," Lukashevich said.
Desir said that he would use his abilities to influence the Ukrainian authorities to release Vyshinsky, Lukashevich added.
Vyshinsky was detained in Kiev last May on suspicion of treason and supporting the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics. In February, the Kherson city court extended the journalist's arrest until April 8. According to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Vyshinsky's arrest is politically motivated and demonstrates Ukrainian authorities' unacceptable policy of targeting journalists doing their jobs.
Desir 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.
