Russia Detains Former Journalist, Accused of Passing Secrets to West, for Treason
A document photograph of journalist Ivan Safronov. (Reuters)
Pictures launched by way of the FSB safety carrier confirmed Ivan Safronov being detained out of doors his Moscow flat by way of armed brokers who searched him prior to hanging him right into a van.
- Reuters
- Final Up to date: July 7, 2020, 11:49 PM IST
Russian safety forces on Tuesday detained a former journalist who works as an aide to the top of Russia’s house company and accused him of treason, pronouncing he had handed army secrets and techniques to an unnamed NATO energy.
Pictures launched by way of the FSB safety carrier confirmed Ivan Safronov being detained out of doors his Moscow flat by way of armed brokers who searched him prior to hanging him right into a van.
He may just later be heard pronouncing “I am not to blame” as masked brokers led him previous newshounds to a court docket listening to that used to be closed to the general public and used to be set to decide the phrases of his custody.
Safronov, who has lined army affairs for 2 nationwide newspapers, faces as much as 20 years in prison if discovered to blame. His trial is anticipated to be held in the back of closed doorways as a result of its delicate nature.
It’s the first time in just about 20 years journalist has been accused of treason in Russia, mentioned Ivan Pavlov, a outstanding defence legal professional.
His detention raised fears amongst newshounds of a brand new wave of repression, and team of workers at Kommersant, one among his former newspapers, mentioned in a piece of writing that the allegations appeared absurd as a result of he used to be an actual patriot.
A few of Safronov’s former journalist colleagues protested out of doors FSB headquarters prior to being detained.
The FSB accused Safronov of running for an unnamed international intelligence carrier.
“Safronov, sporting out duties for one of the most NATO international locations’ intelligence products and services, accrued and passed over to its consultant state secrets and techniques and details about military-technical cooperation and concerning the defence and safety of the Russian Federation,” it mentioned.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov mentioned he didn’t imagine the fees had been associated with Safronov’s paintings as a journalist.
The distance company mentioned Safronov had no get right of entry to to secrets and techniques and the case used to be now not associated with his paintings there.
TASS reported ultimate yr that prosecutors sought after to carry a case towards Kommersant for disclosing a state secret.
Russian information portal The Bell mentioned then that an editorial which Safronov had labored on had disappeared from Kommersant’s web page.
It mentioned Egypt had agreed to shop for Russian Sukhoi SU-35 fighter jets. Washington threatened Egypt with sanctions if the deal went via.
