Russian authorities reportedly have expert testimony corroborating treason charges against journalist Ivan Safronov

The treason case against former investigative journalist Ivan Safronov reportedly includes at least two expert testimonies, corroborating allegations that he transmitted classified information to foreign intelligence agents, Open Media reports. 

According to Safronov’s lawyer, Ivan Pavlov, one of the documents is dated September 2019 (Safronov was working as a correspondent for the business newspaper Vedomosti at that time), while the second is dated May 2020 (the month when Safronov switched to working for the Russian space corporation Roscosmos). Pavlov noted that the defense hasn’t seen the materials themselves, but a reference to the testimonies is included in the order that initiated the case.

Open Media’s source close to the FSB notes that the recruitment process for work at state corporations involves a thorough background check, carried out by FSB employees. According to Open Media’s source, Safronov couldn’t have been hired without the FSB’s permission, especially not for a job close to Roscosmos CEO Dmitry Rogozin, who has access to classified information.

The source admitted that the FSB specifically waited for Safronov to leave journalism for the civil service, so that his arrest wouldn’t cause the same public outcry, as in the case of the arrest of Meduza special correspondent Ivan Golunov.

Ivan Safronov previously worked as an investigative journalist for the Russian business newspapers Kommersant and Vedomosti. He went to work as a communications advisor to the head of Russia’s space corporation, Roscosmos, in May 2020. 

On July 7, federal agents arrested Safronov on treason charges. According to the investigation, he was recruited by Czech intelligence in 2012, and later passed them classified information. Safronov has denied any guilt. Moscow’s Lefortovo Court sentenced him to two months in jail that same day.