Russian Investigative Committee opened a case against Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) officer for allegedly “illegal prosecution” of the former Head of RIA News Kyrylo Vyshynsky, suspected of state treason, as the service reported.
The Investigation Committee has explained that “Andriy Prosnyak, the Head of Investigation Department of SBU General Administration was involved in these crimes.”
According to the Investigative Committee, Prosnyak informed Vyshynsky that he was suspected of state treason at the moment when the law enforcers knew that other authors also made publications which infringe on Ukraine’s informational security on Rossiya Sevodnya even before Vyshynsky started working.
Therefore, criminal proceeding for obstruction of professional activities of the journalist and illegal involvement to criminal liability.
On May 15, the SBU considered the detention of the head of RIA News Ukraine agency’s office.
Kremlin has already responded to the incident and called the actions of the SBU outrageous. Besides, Russia promised to assume reciprocal measures. Then, the state sent a protest note over searches at the mass media office.
The actions of Vyshynsky were preliminarily qualified as the state treason. The same day the SBU reported that Kyrylo Vyshynsky is now officially suspected of state treason.
Recently, there are statements about his exchange for the convicted Ukrainians held in Russia.