MOSCOW, May 28 (RAPSI) – Russian prosecutors have demanded a 14-year prison sentence for Ukrainian journalist Roman Sushchenko charged with espionage, ex-attorney Mark Feygin has told RAPSI.

Sentencing of Sushchenko has been scheduled for June 4, according to Feygin.

In May, Feygin was deprived of his lawyer status, however, the Moscow City Court allowed him to take part in the trial of Sushchenko as “another person” under the Criminal Procedure Code’s article on defenders.

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 officials claimed earlier.

Charges were brought against Sushchenko in October 2016. He could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

The journalist pleaded not guilty to espionage.

Ukrinform news agency earlier confirmed that Sushchenko had 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.”