MOSCOW, July 15 (RAPSI) - Russia’s High Commissioner for Human Rights Tatiana Moskalkova has become aware of a threat of provocations and pushback attempts from radically minded individuals towards Ukrainian judicial authorities considering the case against journalist Kirill Vyshinsky.

The ombudsman has called the civil society to oppose provocative acts and to come down on the side of truth and justice in relation to Vyshinsky, according to her statement.

On Monday, Moskalkova is expected to arrive in Kiev to attend a court hearing of the case against the journalist.

The editor-in-chief of RIA Novosti Ukraine news agency Vyshinsky having Ukrainian and Russian citizenship was arrested in Kiev on May 15, 2018 on suspicion of treason and placed in detention. The journalist’s detention has been repeatedly extended ever since.  If convicted, he could face up to 15 years in prison. 

Moskalkova earlier repeatedly requested international organizations including UN, Council of Europe and Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to speak in defense of the Russian journalist. According to the ombudsman, the case against Vyshinsky and his detention are illegal.

Russian President Vladimir Putin previously said that Vyshinsky was arrested and detained for his professional journalistic activities. He also called this policy of Ukrainian authorities unprecedented and inadmissible.