1. Regarding the decision of the Moscow City Court on the case of Roman Sushchenko, who is illegally detained in Russia.

 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine expresses its absolute protest regarding the Moscow City Court’s ruling as of January 24, 2018, to extend the custodial term of Ukrainian journalist Roman Sushchenko, who is illegally detained in Russia under fabricated charges in September 2016, for another two-month term until March 30, 2018.

The refusal of the court to change the precautionary measure for non-custodial, as well as holding closed judgment sessions in the case of R. Sushchenko, the denial to grant access for a consular officer and media representatives, prove a continued pressure on the detained citizen of Ukraine and prejudice of Russian judicial organs.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine calls upon the international community, international human rights institutions to take all appropriate legal, political and economic actions to release and return the Ukrainian citizens to Ukraine, who are illegally detained in Russia under fabricated politically motivated charges.

 

2. Actual situation in the eastern part of Ukraine.

 

The situation remained tense in eastern Ukraine.

Russia-backed militants violated the ceasefire in eastern Ukraine.

In mentioned period militants were shelling Ukrainian troops’ positions in Kamianka, Lebedyne, Pisky, Vodyane, Shyrokyne, Novotroitske, Verkhnotoretske, Lebedynske, Avdiivka, Luhanske, Troitske of Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

As a result, 2 Ukrainian servicemen were killed and 6 wounded.

For all shelling Ukrainian troops responded with fire from weapons allowed under Minsk agreements.