The President's Office suggests a simultaneous process for Russia to release the head of the 'RIA Novosti - Ukraine' portal, Kirill Vyshynsky, and director Oleg Sentsov in response to the Kremlin's proposal to release Vyshynsky. This was reported on Facebook by President Zelensky's spokesperson, Yulia Mendel.
'The President's Office learned with great interest about Russia's proposal regarding the release of Kirill Vyshynsky as the first step of goodwill from Ukraine. We fully support the policy of goodwill steps and suggest that Russia take its step in return - by releasing Oleg Sentsov,' she stated.
Earlier at a press conference in Moscow, Russian President spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that the 'return' of Kirill Vyshynsky to Moscow would be a 'wonderful first step' towards normalizing relations from Kyiv's side.
Today, another court hearing in Vyshynsky's case will take place in Kyiv.
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Kirill Vyshynsky heads the 'RIA Novosti Ukraine' portal - the Ukrainian branch of the Russian state news agency 'Russia Today'.
On May 15, 2018, he was detained by the SBU following searches at the Kyiv office of 'RIA Novosti'.
The Ukrainian security service claims that in the spring of 2014, Kirill Vyshynsky received an assignment to conduct subversive informational activities in Crimea, for which he received a state award 'For the Return of Crimea'.
Later, according to the SBU, he worked in support of the so-called 'DPR/LPR'.
For his activities, Kirill Vyshynsky received 53 thousand euros monthly from Russia, which were transferred through Serbia.
At court hearings, Kirill Vyshynsky admitted that he has two passports - Russian and Ukrainian, but denied the charges against him and described the case against him as pressure on freedom of speech.
Vyshynsky also stated that the anti-Ukrainian materials mentioned by the prosecution were actually just criticism of former Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko and his entourage.
He also emphasized that he could renounce his Ukrainian citizenship.
For the charges of treason, Kirill Vyshynsky faces up to 15 years in prison. His case is currently at the stage of reviewing the indictment.