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Ukrainian Sushchenko's Defense Says Exchange for Journalist Vyshinsky Possible

© AFP 2023 / Vasily MAXIMOVUkrainian journalist Roman Sushchenko, accused by Russia's FSB security service of being a spy, stands inside a defendants' cage during a hearing at a court in Moscow on November 28, 2016
Ukrainian journalist Roman Sushchenko, accused by Russia's FSB security service of being a spy, stands inside a defendants' cage during a hearing at a court in Moscow on November 28, 2016 - Sputnik International
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MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The representative of Ukrainian national Roman Sushchenko, convicted for spying in Russia, said he thinks Sushchenko may be exchanged for RIA Novosti Ukraine portal head Kirill Vyshinsky, arrested in Ukraine.

"Sushchenko's verdict opens the window of opportunity to exchange him for Vyshinsky… I know Kiev's position, they want to exchange him [Sushchenko]," Mark Feigin told reporters.

Earlier in the day, Moscow city court sentenced Ukrainian citizen Roman Suschenko, whom the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) believes to be a Ukrainian intelligence service officer, to 12 years in prison over espionage.

"To find Suschenko guilty [of espionage] and sentence him to 12 years in prison," the judge said.

RIA Novosti Ukraine's Editor-in-Chief Kirill Vyshinsky at the 2015 Forum of European and Asian Media (photo from archieve). Kirill Vyshinsky was arrested by the Ukrainian Security Service in Kiev - Sputnik International
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According to the FSB, Suschenko was collecting confidential information about the work of the Russian Armed Forces and National Guard. The Ukrainian Ukrinfom news agency claims that he had been working as its correspondent since 2002. The media outlet rejected accusations of espionage, saying that Suschenko was on vacation and visited Moscow on personal business.

Court hearings on the case were held in closed sessions.

Addressing the issue, Vyshinsky's lawyer Andriy Domansky told Sputnik, that he the defense is ready to take part in talks on Vyshinsky's exchange for Sushchenko or another citizen of Ukraine if invited to participate.

"Politicians and diplomats should think about this [exchange]. As for legal experts, the lawyer, first of all, works to defend Vyshinsky's interests. I, as his lawyer, will represent and protect his rights and interests in court, defend his innocence," Domansky said by phone.

READ MORE: Vyshinsky's Lawyers Send Request to Strip Client of Ukrainian Citizenship

On May 15, the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) broke into the office of RIA Novosti Ukraine in Kiev. Vyshinsky was detained on charges of treason that same day. The SBU has also accused him of supporting the self-proclaimed people's republics of Donetsk and Luhansk in Ukraine's southeast. On May 17, the Kherson City Court decided to place Vyshinsky in pre-trial detention for 60 days without bail.

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