Sushchenko “turned in” by family friend in Moscow, lawyer Feygin says

Ukrainian journalist Roman Sushchenko charged with "espionage" by the Russian authorities was arrested in Moscow Sept. 30 over his family friend’s testimony.

As reported by Censor.NET citing detector.media, Sushchenko's lawyer Mark Feygin said on air of Channel 5.

"He (Roman Sushchenko - Ed.) visited his brother in Moscow several times. He also kept in touch with a family friend. The family friend has just turned him in. End of story, " Feygin said.

As previously reported, members of Moscow's Public Monitoring Commission found Ukrinform news agency correspondent Roman Sushchenko in Lefortovo prison Oct. 2. The Lefortovo court of Moscow remanded the journalist in a two-month custody on charges of espionage (article 276 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation) the following day.

Ukraine's Information Policy Ministry also confirmed the detention of Sushchenko. The ministry said its legal department was collecting necessary information on the circumstances and reasons for the detention.

In turn, the FSB claims Ukrainian journalist Sushchenko is an agent of the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine's MoD.