Russian Ombudswoman Concerned Ukraine Failed To Notify Vyshinsky Of Pre-Trial Probe End

Russian human rights commissioner Tatiana Moskalkova on Wednesday said she considered it "strange" that the Ukrainian authorities had failed to inform the arrested RIA Novosti Ukraine website head, Kirill Vyshinsky, of completion of the pre-trial investigation into his case.

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th September, 2018) Russian human rights commissioner Tatiana Moskalkova on Wednesday said she considered it "strange" that the Ukrainian authorities had failed to inform the arrested RIA Novosti Ukraine website head, Kirill Vyshinsky, of completion of the pre-trial investigation into his case.

On Tuesday, the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) said that the pre-trial proceedings on Vyshinsky's case were over and the materials were being prepared for the trial.

"Regarding this statement, it is quite strange that neither Kirill Vyshinsky nor his attorney Andriy Domansky were informed of the end of the pre-trial proceedings or provided with case files," the ombudswoman said.

Moskalkova also expressed concern that Vyshinsky had not received medical aid despite the court's ruling to provide a health check to the detained journalist due to his poor physical condition.

Vyshinsky, a Ukrainian citizen, was arrested in Kiev in May on suspicion of supporting breakaway eastern provinces. He was transferred to Kherson in the south and taken into custody on a court order, which was extended this month until November 4.

The detention of Vyshinsky has prompted widespread criticism by journalists and rights groups, which said that such moves were unacceptable in a democratic society.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Vyshinsky's arrest was politically motivated, adding that the incident demonstrated an unprecedented and unacceptable policy of Ukrainian authorities targeting journalists who were just doing their jobs.