Ukrainian gets six-year prison term in Russia for spying

Publisher Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
Publication Date 15 October 2015
Cite as Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Ukrainian gets six-year prison term in Russia for spying, 15 October 2015, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/56813c622b.html [accessed 17 September 2023]
DisclaimerThis is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

October 15, 2015

A court in Moscow has sentenced a former defense factory chief from Ukraine to six years in prison on espionage charges.

The Moscow City Court on October 14 found Yuri Soloshenko, the 73-year-old former head of the Znamya electronics plant in Poltava, guilty of spying after a trial behind closed doors.

The Russian Federal Security Service said that Soloshenko was arrested in Moscow in August 2014 while trying to buy secret components for the S-300 air-defense missile system.

Both Russia and Ukraine have the Soviet-designed weapon in their arsenals.

Soloshenko did not appeal the court's verdict and will remain in pretrial detention until his sentence takes effect.

Russia has seen an unprecedented number of espionage and treason cases reach trial over the past year amidst its tug-of-war with Ukraine.

Just last week, a court in western Russia sentenced a man to 12 years in prison for allegedly spying for Ukraine.

Based on reporting by AP, AFP, and TASS

Link to original story on RFE/RL website

Copyright notice: Copyright (c) 2007-2009. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036

Search Refworld