Russian couple convicted of treason for photographing military sites near Moscow, sentenced to 17 and 15 years in prison

A Moscow court has sentenced 38-year-old Valeria Yegorova to 17 years in prison and her husband, 42-year-old Pavel Korotich, to 15 years on treason charges for photographing and filming Defense Ministry sites, according to the city prosecutor’s office.

Yegorova was also convicted of money laundering and drug possession. The court imposed an additional fine of 100,000 rubles (about $1,200).

According to prosecutors, in May 2023, Yegorova contacted a representative of Ukrainian military intelligence and was “tasked with collecting and passing on information about the location, purpose, actual names, organizational structure, and security” of Russian military facilities in Moscow and the surrounding region.

Prosecutors claimed that from May 2023 to February 2024, Yegorova took photos and videos of building facades, fences, signs, and personnel at Defense Ministry sites. Korotich allegedly drove her to the locations and kept watch during the recordings.

“In an effort to make the funds appear legitimate, Yegorova carried out five financial transactions involving the sale of cryptocurrency she had received, transferring the proceeds to bank cards held by herself and her husband,” the court’s press service said. “In addition, Yegorova unlawfully stored a powdered substance at her residence containing more than 0.3 grams of amphetamine.”

It remains unclear when the criminal case was opened. Court records show that Yegorova and Korotich were arrested on March 1, 2024, Mediazona reported.