Russia appeals to Council of Europe concerning arrest of RIA Novosti editor-in-chief
Russia’s Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights has contacted Dunya Mijatović, the Council of Europe’s commissioner on human rights, in connection with the arrest of RIA Novosti-Ukraine editor-in-chief Kirill Vyshinsky in Ukraine, TASS reports.
“The council expresses extreme concern regarding the situation connected to the arrest of Kirill Vyshinsky and the pressure on his colleague. We ask you, esteemed Ms. Mijatović, to take personal control of this. We consider it necessary to ask the Ukrainian government to immediately free Vyshinsky, and to have an objective investigation of the circumstances of what happened and to prosecute those who allowed this violation of the rights of the journalist and his colleague,” the message reads.
The council also asks Verkhovna Rada human rights representative Lyudmyla Denisova to take personal control of the matter, and to take steps to have Vyshinsky released immediately.
On May 15, the Security Service of Ukraine searched the offices of RIA Novosti – Ukraine. It later came out that editor-in-chief Kirill Vyshinsky was accused of committing crimes. He was arrested according to article 208 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, and criminal proceedings were initiated according to Sec. 1 Art. 111 (high treason).
On May 17, Kherson City Court sentenced Vyshinsky to two months of detention.