Russian serviceman arrested for high treason; former journalist accused of passing secrets to Czech Republic

Jonny Tickle
RT
Thu, 30 Jul 2020 17:54 UTC

© Sputnik/Alexey Maishev/file

Ivan Safronov, former journalist, advisor to Russian Space Agency

A serviceman from Russia's Black Sea Fleet has been arrested by the country's Federal Security Service (FSB) on suspicion of working for Ukrainian military intelligence. If found guilty of high treason, the detained soldier could face between 12 to 20 years behind bars.

In a statement published online, the FSB announced that they had arrested a man in Sevastopol, the largest city on the Crimean Peninsula, who was collecting and transferring state secrets to Ukraine's Ministry of Defense. They did not name the accused, or give his rank.

The serviceman's arrest is the latest in a recent string of high treason arrests this summer. In June, the head of the police in the Russian city of Kursk was detained after being accused of passing secret information to the Ukrainian Security Service. Kursk is just a 90-minute drive away from the border between the two countries.

On July 7, the FSB detained Ivan Safronov, a former journalist and current adviser to the head of the Russian Space Agency, on suspicion of passing secret information to the Czech Republic, a NATO member.

Crimea was re-absorbed by Russia in 2014, and has long been an important strategic region for the navy. From Crimean ports, Russian ships have quick access to the Mediterranean and the rest of the world.

Comment: From covert to Covid: Complications for Safronov.

Former journalist Ivan Safronov, accused by Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) of spying for Czech intelligence, has been isolated in Moscow's Lefortovo pre-trial detention center due to suspected coronavirus.

According to Eva Merkacheva, from the Public Monitoring Commission - a human rights organization - Safronov has symptoms of Covid-19 and has been transferred to a separate cell, awaiting test results.

Speaking to the press, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov explained that Safronov would receive medical assistance if he does indeed have the virus. "If this information is true, we hope that the necessary testing will be performed, and if the diagnosis is confirmed, the necessary medical care will be provided," he said.

As a journalist, Safronov specialized in the Russian military, writing for well-known Moscow newspapers Kommersant and Vedomosti. He is currently employed as an adviser to the head of Roscosmos, Russia's space agency.