HRC urged to prove the need for a strict sentence for Ivan Safronov

Valery Fadeev, head of the Russian Presidential Council for the Development of Civil Society and Human Rights, believes that the public needs to be convinced of the extent to which the consequences of the activities of Ivan Safronov, adviser to the head of Roscosmos, correspond to the severity of the sentence. He noted that this case “causes tension primarily in the journalistic environment.” Today, September 5, Ivan Safronov sentenced to 22 years of strict regime on two episodes of treason.

“Since the case is serious and, possibly, the scale of negative consequences for the country is large, as well as the case is resonant and causes tension, primarily in the journalistic environment, then, in my opinion, it would be right, although the case is closed and secret, to give some information that would convince the public that the verdict of the court, although so severe, corresponds to the negative consequences of Safronov’s activities,” said Mr. Fadeev.

Valery Fadeev recalled that the case of Ivan Safronov was discussed at a meeting of the Human Rights Council with Russian President Vladimir Putin in December 2020. Then the journalist Ekaterina Vinokurova noted that the article on treason “is written in such a way that any consulting assistance that is used by foreigners to the detriment of our state is considered treason.” Vladimir Putin replied that, in his opinion, Ivan Safronov was convicted not because he worked as a journalist, but for the period of his work as an adviser to the head of Roskosmos.

Valery Fadeev considers this case serious, but he believes that “it is unlikely that it is connected in any minimal way with pressure on the media.” “Judging by the verdict, it can be assumed that the court took into account the negative consequences of Safronov’s activities. Information about such possible consequences is on the Internet, another question is how much this information is true, ”said Fadeev.

Ivan Safronov was arrested on July 7, 2020 on charges of collaborating with the intelligence of the Czech Republic and Germany. His lawyers spokethat even witnesses for the prosecution confirmed that there was no treason, and Safronov did not have access to state secrets and was engaged in journalism. In addition, the experts concluded that the information, which, according to the investigation, was transmitted by the journalist, was heard during the meeting of the Security Council of the Russian Federation in August 2018. In his last speech, Ivan Safronov said: “To find me guilty means to admit that in Russia journalistic work is a crime.”

Peter Stano, a representative of the European External Action Service, called for the charges against Ivan Safronov to be dropped and released from custody. He stated that “the regime’s systematic harassment of independent journalists deprives citizens of access to the facts.”

Read about how Ivan Safronov was sentenced broadcasts “b”. Read more about the progress of the case “The term was picked up on the Internet”.

Anastasia Larina