The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has expressed protest in connection with the FSB's declaring formal charges against correspondent of the Ukrinform national news agency Roman Suschenko.

"The groundless detention and the contrived, unfounded prosecution of the Ukrainian journalist due to espionage are another confirmation of Russia's policy on increasing pressure on Ukraine and the illegal persecution of Ukrainian citizens," the ministry said.

The Foreign Ministry noted Russia's deliberate disregarding the request to immediately allow the Ukrainian consul to Suschenko demonstrates the continuation of the Kremlin's purposeful policy on the "cynical use of Ukrainian citizens for political purposes and violation of human rights."

"We demand the Russian Federation immediately release Roman Suschenko and all other political prisoners - the citizens of Ukraine," the report reads.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry called on the international community to increase pressure on the Russian Federation with a view to a speedy end to human rights violations and persecution of independent journalists.