Russian court sentences former journalist to 22 years in jail for treason

In essentially the most high-profile case of treason lately, the Moscow Metropolis Court docket on Monday sentenced Ivan Safronov, a former journalist and adviser to the top of Russian area company Roscosmos, to 22 years in jail, in accordance with an RIA Novosti correspondent reporting from the courtroom.

“[The court rules out] to condemn Safronov to a time period of twenty-two years to be served in a excessive safety jail,” the judicial board introduced the choice. As well as, he was sentenced to 2 years of restriction of freedom after his launch and a positive of 500,000 rubles.

The protection has 10 days to attraction this choice, it has not but entered into power, in accordance with RIA 

Extra background: Safronov was detained by the Federal Safety Service (FSB) in July 2020 after he was accused of accumulating state confidential information about Russia’s army and technical developments, in addition to protection and safety, and handing it over to NATO.

As a journalist, Safronov specialised in reporting on army and area subjects for the Vedomosti and Kommersant newspapers earlier than transferring on to work as an adviser to the previous head of Roscosmos, Dmitry Rogozin.

Particulars of the case weren’t formally launched, because the case was dealt with behind closed doorways because of the severity of the fees. Legal professionals for Safronov stated final week the prosecutor supplied the journalist a responsible plea in change for a diminished sentence of 12 years, which he declined.

Just a few Russia’s remaining unbiased media retailers, together with Meduza, Novaya Gazeta, TVRain, and others, printed a assertion in help of Ivan Safronov Monday demanding the discharge of the journalist and calling for an investigation into alleged authorized violations within the case.

“It’s clear to us that the rationale for Ivan’s persecution isn’t ‘treason’, which isn’t confirmed by something, however his journalistic work and supplies that he printed with out regard to the opinion of the Ministry of Protection and the Russian authorities,” the assertion stated.