MOSCOW, June 27 (RAPSI, Lyudmila Klenko) – The Lefortovsky District Court of Moscow has extended the detention of Ukrainian journalist Roman Sushchenko, who stands charged with espionage, until September 30, the court’s spokesperson Yekaterina Krasnova told RAPSI on Tuesday.

According to Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), the Ukrainian citizen has "purposively collected classified information about the Armed Forces and National Guard of Russia." Leak of data abroad could cause damage to the national defense capability, the FSB claimed earlier.

On October 7, charges were brought against Sushchenko.  He could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Ukrinform news agency earlier confirmed that Sushchenko has been acting as its reporter since 2002. Since 2010, he has been working as Ukrinform’s personal correspondent in France. According to the agency, Sushchenko arrived in Moscow on private business during his vacation and was arrested immediately upon his arrival.

Ukrinform repelled accusations against Sushchenko calling him "a journalist with years of unblemished professional reputation".