Sushchenko convicted of spying, sentenced to 12 years

A Moscow court
convicted Roman Sushchenko, a Ukrainian correspondent for the Ukrinform news
agency, of espionage in a June 4 verdict and sentenced him to 12 years
imprisonment “under strict regime,” according to Russian law. Sushchenko was
detained at an airport in Moscow on Sept. 30, 2016, where Russian authorities
determined he was an officer with the Security Service of Ukraine
(SBU). The SBU denied
that it employed Sushchenko in any capacity. Sushchenko said he was visiting
Moscow at the time for personal reasons unrelated to his work as a journalist.

Doctors are planning
to install a feeding tube in the nose of Oleg Sentsov, a film producer who has
been on a hunger strike since May 14, said his lawyer Dmytro Dinze on June 4.
The doctors are expecting his health will turn worse soon, he said. “When that
happens, he will be fitted with a feeding tube and they will pour nutrition
through his nose,” his lawyer said. “However, if he doesn’t stop and rejects
nutrition afterwards, the result will be fatal.” Sentsov was convicted of
planning a terrorist act in Crimea and sentenced to 20 years imprisonment. He
denied the charges and his cause has drawn global support.

Zenon Zawada: During her imprisonment, Nadia
Savchenko was able to draw wide global recognition and support because
reporters were allowed into her trial and her unique story and background were
compelling. Yet these other prisoners don’t have the same attention and
recognition, partly because Russian authorities have restricted their media
expose. Sentsov’s hunger strike is the most important development among these
prisoners that’s worth monitoring. His possible death doesn’t bother the
Russian leadership much but adds further to the global outrage of crimes
related to the illegal annexation of Crimea.