Russian ex-journalist Safronov will get 22 years in jail for treason | World News

A Russian court docket on Monday sentenced a former journalist to 22 years in jail for treason after prosecutors stated he disclosed state secrets and techniques, a ruling his supporters stated was an unduly harsh punishment that confirmed the absence of media freedom in Russia.

Ivan Safronov, a former defence reporter for the Kommersant and Vedomosti newspapers turned adviser to the top of Russia's house company, was arrested in 2020 and accused of exposing categorized data.

Safronov's legal professionals instructed the RIA Novosti information company they are going to attraction the decision.

His supporters say the case is retribution for his reporting which uncovered particulars of Russia's worldwide arms offers.

"Everyone who's near Safronov believes the cost of treason is absurd," journalist Katerina Gordeeva stated after interviewing his mom, sister and former colleagues for a documentary concerning the case.

Human rights lawyer Pavel Chikov stated the sentence was a "savage, demonstratively merciless punishment, equivalent to the present state of Russia." He stated he couldn't discover any examples of any treason circumstances resulting in such a prolonged sentence, not to mention in opposition to a journalist.

Forward of the sentencing, the European Union known as on Russia to drop all prices in opposition to Safronov, 32, and launch him unconditionally.

Prosecutors stated Safronov shared state secrets and techniques about Russia's arms gross sales within the Center East to the Czech Republic's overseas intelligence arm. He has denied the fees all through and final month rejected a plea deal that will have seen him serve a 12-year jail sentence.

His arrest in July 2020 sparked outcry from Russian journalists, together with at state-run shops.

Safronov, 32, strongly denied the fees and stated that the data he's alleged to have handed to the Czech Republic was all open supply public data.

In the course of the trial his authorized group printed hyperlinks to 19 printed articles and authorities statements that prosecutors declare represent the "state secrets and techniques" Safronov is alleged to have handed to Czech overseas intelligence.

"Ivan by no means despatched any secret data wherever - for cash or without spending a dime. All of the prosecution's witnesses acknowledged in court docket that he was not engaged in legal exercise. He was an extraordinary journalist, actually doing his job," his legal professionals stated in an announcement.

His defence group imagine the trial is retribution for Safronov revealing Russia's plans to promote fighter jets to Egypt. The estimated $2-billion deal was scrapped quickly after when the U.S. threatened sanctions on Cairo if it went forward.

Forward of Monday's court docket listening to, a number of impartial Russian media shops known as for Safronov to be launched. In an announcement, shops together with Meduza, Novaya Gazeta and TV Rain, stated it was "apparent" Safronov was being punished for his reporting on Russia's army procurement offers that had irked Russia's defence ministry.

The heavy sentence - greater than Russian courts usually hand down in homicide circumstances - is seen as a landmark blow in opposition to Russian reporting amid an intensification of the stress being placed on press freedom by the Kremlin since Russia invaded Ukraine in February.

Individually on Monday, a Moscow court docket revoked the publishing license for Novaya Gazeta, a flagship impartial newspaper which ceased publishing days after Russia despatched tens of hundreds of troops into Ukraine and imposed strict new controls over media shops.