OSCE Representative reiterates call to release journalist Roman Sushchenko, following Russian Supreme Court upholding his sentence

WARSAW, 12 September 2018 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, said that today’s decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation to uphold the sentencing of Ukrainian journalist Roman Sushchenko is deeply disappointing.

“I reiterate my call on the Russian authorities to release Roman Sushchenko from prison. Journalists in the OSCE region should be able to work without fear of intimidation or imprisonment,” Désir said.

On 4 June 2018, the Moscow City Court sentenced Sushchenko, a journalist with the Ukrainian National News Agency Ukrinform, to 12 years in a high security prison on espionage charges. He has been under arrest in Moscow since 30 September 2016.

The Representative raised the case on several occasions in the past, including during his official visits to Kyiv and Moscow in 2017 (see: https://www.osce.org/representative-on-freedom-of-media/383433, https://www.osce.org/fom/351561 and https://www.osce.org/fom/358456).

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. He provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. Learn more at www.osce.org/fom, twitter @OSCE_RFoM and on www.facebook.com/osce.rfom.