Russian ex-journalist Safronov receives 22 several years in jail for treason | World News

Russian ex-journalist Safronov receives 22 several years in jail for treason | World News (*2*)

A Russian courtroom on Monday sentenced a previous journalist to 22 several years in jail for treason following prosecutors explained he disclosed condition tricks, a ruling his supporters explained was an unduly severe punishment that confirmed the absence of media flexibility in Russia.

Ivan Safronov, a previous defence reporter for the Kommersant and Vedomosti newspapers turned adviser to the head of Russia's house company, was arrested in 2020 and accused of disclosing categorised info.

Safronov's attorneys informed the RIA Novosti news company they will attractiveness the verdict.

His supporters say the situation is retribution for his reporting which uncovered information of Russia's intercontinental arms discounts.

"Most people who is near to Safronov thinks the demand of treason is absurd," journalist Katerina Gordeeva explained following interviewing his mom, sister and previous colleagues for a documentary about the situation.

Human legal rights attorney Pavel Chikov explained the sentence was a "savage, demonstratively cruel punishment, corresponding to the existing condition of Russia." He explained he could not discover any illustrations of any treason circumstances major to these kinds of a prolonged sentence, permit by yourself towards a journalist.

Forward of the sentencing, the European Union identified as on Russia to fall all fees towards Safronov, 32, and launch him unconditionally.

Prosecutors explained Safronov shared condition tricks about Russia's arms product sales in the Center East to the Czech Republic's overseas intelligence arm. He has denied the fees in the course of and very last thirty day period turned down a plea offer that would have viewed him provide a twelve-calendar year jail sentence.

His arrest in July 2020 sparked outcry from Russian journalists, which includes at condition-operate stores.

Safronov, 32, strongly denied the fees and explained that the info he is alleged to have handed to the Czech Republic was all open up resource community info.

Throughout the demo his lawful staff printed backlinks to 19 printed content articles and govt statements that prosecutors assert represent the "condition tricks" Safronov is alleged to have handed to Czech overseas intelligence.

"Ivan by no means despatched any magic formula info any place - for funds or for cost-free. All the prosecution's witnesses said in courtroom that he was not engaged in prison exercise. He was an standard journalist, actually undertaking his career," his attorneys explained in a assertion.

His defence staff believe that the demo is retribution for Safronov revealing Russia's programs to market fighter jets to Egypt. The believed $2-billion offer was scrapped before long following when the U.S. threatened sanctions on Cairo if it went in advance.

Forward of Monday's courtroom listening to, a number of unbiased Russian media stores identified as for Safronov to be produced. In a assertion, stores which includes Meduza, Novaya Gazeta and Television Rain, explained it was "evident" Safronov was becoming punished for his reporting on Russia's armed forces procurement discounts that experienced irked Russia's defence ministry.

The weighty sentence - additional than Russian courts generally hand down in murder circumstances - is viewed as a landmark blow towards Russian reporting amid an intensification of the force becoming place on push flexibility by the Kremlin considering that Russia invaded Ukraine in February.

Individually on Monday, a Moscow courtroom revoked the publishing license for Novaya Gazeta, a flagship unbiased newspaper which ceased publishing times following Russia despatched tens of hundreds of troops into Ukraine and imposed rigorous new controls more than media stores.

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