The Court of Appeal of Ivano-Frankivsk region on 14 July acquitted blogger and journalist Ruslan Kotsaba and ruled to drop criminal proceedings against him for absence of crime in the act. Kotsaba was released from custody in the courtroom.
"Close the criminal proceedings in respect of Ruslan Kotsaba on the basis of lack of evidence and immediately release him from detention," Ukrinform quoted an excerpt from the ruling of the court.
On May 12, Ivano-Frankivsk City Court sentenced Kotsaba to 3.5 years of imprisonment with confiscation of property, finding him guilty of obstructing the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In this case the prosecutor's office asked the court to sentence Kotsaba to 13 years in prison under Article 111 of the Criminal Code - high treason.
Ruslan Kotsaba was arrested on February 8, 2015 on suspicion of treason and espionage. He has campaigned against mobilization.