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Russian journalist’s defense views swap as political, counts on court decision

The next hearing is scheduled for July 19

Kirill Vyshinsky Anna Marchenko/TASS

Kirill Vyshinsky

© Anna Marchenko/TASS

KIEV, July 19. /TASS/. The defense of RIA Novosti Ukraine Editor-in-Chief Kirill Vyshinsky is counting on a fair decision of the court in his case, particularly in the consideration of the appeal to cancel his arrest, and not on the swap release, lawyer of the journalist Andrey Domansky told TASS on Friday.

"I am not taking political statements (about the swap - TASS) into account. I go by the laws," the lawyer underlined, adding that "court is independent from the executive and other powers."

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Ukraine ready to exchange Vyshinsky for Sentsov, president says

Domansky said he expected the court to consider his appeal to change Vyshinsky’s custody decision on Friday. "I will file the appeal with references to corresponding laws and expect to receive a lawful decision," he pointed out.

On Thursday, Ukrainian president’s press secretary Yulia Mendel announced that the office of the Ukrainian leader had proposed releasing Oleg Sentsov, convicted for terrorism in Crimea, and RIA Novosti Ukraine Editor-in-Chief Kirill Vyshinsky, who remains in custody in Ukraine, at the same time. On Friday, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky himself announced that such a swap can happen.

In 2015, Oleg Sentsov was found guilty of terrorism in Russia. The North Caucasus District Military Court sentenced him to 20 years behind bars on charges of setting up a terrorist cell in Crimea and plotting terror attacks in Crimea. In the spring of 2014, the group’s members carried out two terror attacks in Simferopol: they set on fire the offices of Crimea’s Russian Community non-governmental organization and a regional office of the United Russia party.

The Ukrainian Security Service detained RIA Novosti Ukraine Editor-in-Chief Vyshinsky on May 15, 2018, he was charged with treason and gun trafficking. The Kherson City Court arrested him for 2 months on May 17, and later the arrest was extended several times. If convicted, he faces a jail term of up to 15 years. The next hearing is scheduled for July 19, his custody expires on July 22. Judges need to make a decision before this date, otherwise the journalist will be freed.

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"Democratic institutions in the country have been destroyed, rendering dialogue between the government and the people impossible," Viktor Medvedchuk said

German chancellor reiterates decision not to send Taurus missiles to Ukraine

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Ukraine should consider territorial concessions to Russia in return for peace — magazine

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"A diplomatic search for balance and mutual understanding should be the goal, instead of further escalation," Alice Weidel said

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Japanese government refrains from commenting on Russia’s latest hypersonic missile

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Biden’s actions on Ukraine meant to 'muck things up' for Trump — Lavrov

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NATO enters conflict, Russia has every right to attack its targets now — expert

Col. (Ret.) Lawrence Wilkerson confirmed to TASS that the launch of ATACMS missiles would be impossible without "US/NATO satellite feeds and/or personnel"

Zelensky fine with conflict continuing due to Western help — Slovak PM

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Andrey Belousov stressed that Russian troops have accelerated their advance in the special military operation zone and have effectively disrupted Kiev's 2025 military campaign

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Lin Jian also reaffirmed Beijing's position on the Ukrainian issue

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Andrey Kartapolov added that the special military operation in Ukraine "will continue its course until all tasks are completed"

Ukrainian frontline may 'collapse' under onslaught of Russian forces — BBC

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West irrational, fails to understand it cannot intercept Russia's new missiles — Kneissl

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Ukraine conflict entering decisive phase, Polish PM says

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Russia entitled to use weapons against military sites of states attacking it — Duma

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Putin’s remarks on hypersonic missiles send serious warning to West — Turkish politician

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Putin says Oreshnik missile system cutting-edge innovation by Russia, not Soviet byproduct

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Russia not obliged to notify anyone about launch of intermediate-range missile — Kremlin

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Russia’s Oreshnik has no analogues worldwide — Putin

"We know what kind of developments are being carried out there, but this will happen tomorrow or in a year or two, but we have such a system already today," the president said

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Kremlin confident Putin's statement got through to US administration

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on November 21 that the United States and its NATO allies had earlier announced that they would authorize Ukraine’s use of long-range weapons to hit inside Russia, after which American and British missiles struck Russian military facilities in the Kursk and Bryansk regions

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Decision on strikes inside Russia seals US puppet Zelensky’s fate — commentator

The New York Times reported earlier, citing sources, that US President Joe Biden had authorized the use of US-made ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles for strikes inside Russia

Russian air defense deflects attacks with Western missiles — Putin

"As a result, the goals that the enemy apparently set have not been achieved," the Russian leader said