Journalist Ivan Safronov again began receiving letters in the pre-trial detention center

Journalist Ivan Safronov again began to receive letters to the Lefortovo pre-trial detention center, where he is being held on charges of treason. This was reported by the telegram channel “Freedom to Safronov!”.

The journalist was given more than 100 letters accumulated since September.

In October, it became known that FSB investigator Alexander Chaban demanded that the administration of the Lefortovo pre-trial detention center seize all Safronov's incoming and outgoing correspondence. Chaban substantiated the corresponding requirement with Article 20 of the law “On Detention of Suspected and Accused of Committing Crimes”. This rule prohibits the transfer of letters "containing information that may interfere with the establishment of the truth in a criminal case or contribute to the commission of a crime, executed in secret writing, cipher, containing state or other secrets protected by law." However, according to the journalist's lawyer Dmitry Katchev, Safronov never discussed his criminal case in his letters.

Safronov is charged with an article on treason (Article 275 of the Criminal Code). According to the prosecution, he passed abroad information about Russia's military-technical cooperation with African countries, as well as information about the activities of the armed forces in the Middle East region. The investigation believes that the journalist was recruited by the Czech special services, but, according to Safronov's defense, no evidence of this has yet been provided.

• Ivan Safronov has been in jail since July 2020. His persecution is associated with journalistic activities - he covered the work of the military-industrial complex.
• During his detention, the journalist was subjected to pressure. So, FSB investigator Alexander Chaban offered Safronov a call from his mother in exchange for a deal with the investigation. The journalist’s mother is a witness in this case, so they are forbidden to communicate: the last time Safronov saw her was in July 2020, he was not even allowed to wish her a happy birthday. The journalist refused the investigator's proposal.