Russia charges ex-journalist Ivan Safronov with treason

Russia has charged former journalist Ivan Safronov with treason on suspicion of having spied for a NATO member state. Safronov is alleged to have collected secret Russian military information regarding the Middle East and Africa for the Czech Republic, with the United States being a recipient of that information, state media reported.

Reuters WORLD

Published July 13,2020

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RUSSIA CHARGES EX-JOURNALIST IVAN SAFRONOV WITH TREASON

Ivan Safronov, a former journalist, detained on suspicion of treason is escorted before a court hearing in Moscow [Reuters Photo]

Russian law enforcement charged prominent former journalist Ivan Safronov with treason on Monday, TASS news agency cited his lawyer as saying, accusations that have sent a chill through Russia's media landscape.

The former newspaper reporter who had worked at Russia's space agency since May faces up to 20 years in jail if found guilty after he was arrested last week and accused of passing military secrets to the Czech Republic, a charge he denies.