Oleksandr KHARCHENKO: “There is no justice in Russia”

The film Prisoners of the Kremlin was launched in the club of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine in early February, on the eve of the birthday of Ukrinform journalist and Russia-held political prisoner Roman Sushchenko. Let us recall that Sushchenko was arrested in Russia after arriving there on a private visit. The authorities accused him of committing the grave crime of espionage. The journalist has been under investigation since September 30, 2016. Throughout this time, he never saw his loved ones and was not even allowed to communicate by phone. According to his lawyer Mark Feigin, the court refused all his legitimate requests to have contact with the family. Thus, Sushchenko’s only way of communication with his family has been by letter, which he has written over 40 since his stay in jail started...

The film’s launch was timed to coincide with the journalist’s birthday. Information Policy Minister Yurii Stets thanked all those working to get political prisoners released and stressed the need to do everything to free our compatriots as soon as possible. The event was attended by First Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada, Presidential Plenipotentiary for the Peaceful Resolution of the Donbas Conflict Iryna Herashchenko, Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin, and dozens of the prisoner’s fellow journalists, including employees of Ukrinform.

“There is no justice in Russia. Efforts to release illegally held prisoners such as Sushchenko are also important as we strive to curb Russia’s aggression, because Russia is testing in this way how far it can go. We witness now a war waged by hybrids on creative workers such as Sushchenko, and all kind-hearted people,” said Ukrinform’s CEO Oleksandr Kharchenko.

After the official part of the event ended, the audience was shown a 20-minute documentary which revealed the story of Sushchenko as told by his relatives, lawyer, France-based friends Galina Ackerman and Alla Lazarieva, and those who work to get him freed – Iryna Herashchenko and Yurii Tandit. The film also covered the stories of other political captives, including now-free Hennadii Afanasiev. The meeting also involved an exhibition of photos created by Sushchenko.