MOSCOW, November 7 (RAPSI) - Ukrainian journalist Roman Sushchenko convicted of espionage will serve his 12-year sentence in a prison in Russia’s Kirov Region, according to a statement published Wednesday on ex-attorney Mark Feygin’s Facebook page.

The Moscow City Court convicted and sentenced Sushchenko in June.  In September, the Supreme Court of Russia upheld the prison term. 

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. 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.”