- Title: Russian court rules to keep ex-journalist accused of treason behind bars
- Date: 16th July 2020
- Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (JULY 16, 2020) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) SAFRONOV'S LAWYER, IVAN PAVLOV, SAYING: "The court has come to reviewing the question of guilt. Long-time cooperation with foreign intelligence services is a guilty circumstance. As for now, the second-instance, appeal court Mosgorsud, has ruled that the decision by the first court is unmotivated and illegal and ruled it out, which pleases the defence."
- Embargoed: 30th July 2020 19:35
- Keywords: courtroom human rights journalism journalist detained state treason case
- Location: MOSCOW, RUSSIA
- City: MOSCOW, RUSSIA
- Country: Russia
- Topics: Crime/Law/Justice,Judicial Process/Court Cases/Court Decisions
- Reuters ID: LVA004CN27CCN
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: A Russian court on Thursday (July 16) rejected an appeal by former journalist Ivan Safronov who was accused of treason earlier this month and said he had to remain in pre-trial detention.
Safronov, who left journalism and became an adviser at Russia's space agency in May, was detained on July 7 and accused of passing military secrets to the Czech Republic in 2017, a charge he denies.
He faces up to two decades in jail if found guilty in a trial that is likely to be held behind closed doors because of what authorities say is the sensitive nature of the case.
Safronov's supporters say they don't believe the charges, which have sent a chill through Russia's media community. They describe him as a Russian patriot and want the case details made public so that they can be properly scrutinized. Information so far is sparse.
Ahead of Thursday's appeal hearing, the editors-in-chief of several prominent Russian media outlets said they could personally vouch for the former military journalist who worked for Russia's Kommersant and Vedomosti newspapers.
(Production: Lev Sergeev, Dmitry Turlyun) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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