‘A savage punishment’: Russian journalist Ivan Safronov given 22-year prison sentence

Human rights activists say 32-year-old’s treatment shows ‘perilous reality faced by journalists in Russia today‘

A former Russian journalist has been sentenced to 22 years in prison in what his supporters say is another chilling crackdown on press freedom.

Ivan Safronov, an ex-defence reporter for the Kommersant newspaper, was detained in July 2020 for allegedly passing state secrets to the Czech Republic.

The 32-year-old, who strongly denies the charges, rejected a plea deal from authorities last month, which would have seen him serve 12 years in jail.