KYIV. Jan 31 (Interfax) - A court of appeal in the city of Kherson has rejected a defense complaint against an extension of the custody period for the RIA Novosti Ukraine director Kirill Vyshinsky until February 16.
The court made the decision on Thursday, his lawyer Andrei Domansky told Interfax.
On January 17, the Kherson City Court prolonged Vyshinsky's arrest until February 16.
He was detained in Kyiv on May 15, 2018 and later charged with committing several crimes in Ukraine, including high treason, calling for the violent overthrow of the constitutional system, conspiracy to overthrow the government; calling for intentionally changing Ukraine's national borders in violation of the constitutional order, combined with incitement of ethnic hatred and animosity and humiliation of national honor and dignity; and acquisition and possession of a firearm.
On May 17, 2018, the Kherson City Court remanded him in custody until July 13. Later it extended his period of arrest several times.
On January 10, the case materials were provided to the defense lawyers to be studied.
The Cassation Criminal Court of the Supreme Court of Ukraine will hear Vyshinsky's appeal contesting his May 2018 detention on March 20.
Russia says the case is politically motivated and has demanded the journalist's immediate release.