Russia's FSB accused Vyhovsky of engaging Russian aerospace specialists for gathering classified information / fakty.ua
Ukrainian Deputy Justice Minister Serhiy Petukhov says his ministry has sent a request to the Russian Justice Ministry for the extradition of Ukrainian citizen Valentyn Vyhovsky who was sentenced by Russia to 11 years in prison for allegedly being a spy.
"We have sent a request to the Russian Justice Ministry on the extradition of Valentyn Vyhovsky, who has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for 'spying,'" Petukhov wrote on Facebook on Tuesday.
The Moscow Regional Court found Vyhovsky guilty of spying and sentenced him to 11 years in a strict security penitentiary facility in December 2015. The court also ruled to nationalize the 3,900 euros confiscated from Vyhovsky.
Russia's Federal Security Service accused Vyhovsky of using the Internet to engage aerospace specialists working in Russia's defense industry in gathering classified technical documents for him.
Read alsoPrisoners of conscience: Why Kremlin needs Ukrainian hostagesThe Russian side said the defendant had pled guilty and concluded a plea agreement with the investigation.
The hearing proceeded behind closed doors, as the case was classified.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the verdict as "politicized."
Lawyer Ilya Novikov said that the Vyhovsky case was "falsified by 80-90%."