Ivan Safronov, a former journalist and adviser to the head of the Russian space company Roskosmos, who is accused of treason, has promised to do everything in his power to fight the allegations, which are considered farce.
Safronova’s trial is resuming today.
Safronov, who at the time was an adviser to the head of the Russian space company Roskosmos, was arrested in July 2020 on suspicion of treason.
Russia’s Federal Security Service says it has been cooperating with the Czech secret services since 2012, to which in 2017 it provided information on Russian arms deals in the Middle East and Africa.
Safronov denies the allegations, calling them a “complete parody of justice and common sense.”
Safronov has previously worked for the independent newspapers Kommersant and Vedomosti. He has written on politics as well as on military issues and Russia’s space programs.
In 2019, Kommersant removed an article from its website about the delivery of Russian planes to Egypt, co-authored by Safronov, because a criminal lawsuit was filed for disclosing state secrets.
In May 2020, after the announcement of the possible resignation of the Speaker of the Upper House of the Russian Parliament, Safronov was forced to leave Kommersant.
If Safronov is found guilty of treason, he could face up to 20 years in prison.
In a letter from prison, Safronov revealed that he did not entertain illusions about the verdict.
“I will fight to the end, there is no doubt about it. If there is a prison sentence, there will be a prison sentence. It does not scare me at all,” the letter dated March 26 said. The letter was made available to Reuters on condition that its recipients be kept secret.
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