Russia jails journalist for 12 years on treason charge

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

Russian journalist Darya Shipacheva was convicted of treason by a Moscow court ​and sentenced on Wednesday to 12 ‌years in a penal colony, 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.