Russia jails journalist 12 years for alleged treason charge

A Russian journalist, Darya Shipavheva, has been convicted of treason by a Moscow court ​and sentenced to 12 ‌years in a penal colony on Wednesday, the Interfax news agency reported.

The trial was held behind closed doors and no details of the case were officially released.

Interfax ⁠citing other media, reported that the charges stemmed from an alleged money transfer to Ukraine.

Shipacheva pleaded guilty and received the minimum sentence for the offence.

In a short video posted by independent news outlet Mediazona from inside the courtroom, she looked shocked as ‌the ⁠verdict was announced.

According to Mediazona, she specialised in science and medical journalism and worked for several prominent Russian media organisations.

Russia has tightened censorship ⁠laws and increased pressure on independent media since launching its war in Ukraine in 2022.

Prior to the ⁠verdict, the Committee to Protect Journalists, an independent non-profit organisation that promotes press ⁠freedom worldwide, said 29 journalists were imprisoned in Russia in connection with their work.

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