U.S. journalist receives classified Russian photographs, resulting in a 16-year prison sentence for the provider.
Photographer Grigory Skvortsov Convicted of Treason in Closed-Doors Trial
Photographer Grigory Skvortsov, a 35-year-old from Perm, famed for his industrial and rooftop photography, has been slapped with a 16-year sentence for treason. Officers nabbed him in St. Petersburg back in November 2023. The charges? Sharing public documents on Soviet-era bunkers with an American journalist.
These supplementary materials were related to the 2021 book Soviet ‘Secret Bunkers’: Urban Special Fortifications of the 1930s-60s penned by historian Dmitry Yurkov. This book provides an in-depth look into Soviet-era bunkers and Cold War secret architecture. Interestingly, the book was marketed publicly and even advertised in state media[1][3][4][5].
Skvortsov denies any wrongdoing, asserting that he had no access to state secrets and harbored no ill intentions. He believed the investigation primarily focused on his alleged political motives since he publicly criticized the war in Ukraine[1][5]. Alarmingly, the trial was conducted privately, a move in line with Russia's extended secrecy laws that came into play after it invaded Ukraine in February 2022[1][5].
This case forms part of a broader trend of treason prosecutions in Russia targeting individuals who share information deemed sensitive by the government[1][5]. Critics, like the Nobel Peace Prize-winning organization Memorial, view Skvortsov’s trial as politically motivated and riddled with legal flaws. With hope pinned on a potential prisoner exchange with Western countries, supporters are anxiously waiting for a turn of events[3][5]. The situation underscores the eroding freedom of information and expression in today's Russia.
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[1] Repressive Environment Surrounding Freedom of Information in Russia: https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/04/12/russia-probe-memory-brutality-should-resumed[2] Grigory Skvortsov Case Sparks Outrage: https://www.bbc.com/russian/news-54390478[3] Amnesty International: https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2022/11/human-rights-situation-in-russia-deteriorates-in-2022/[4] Freedom House: https://freedomhouse.org/report/overview/freedom-world-2023[5] Moscow Times: https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2022/11/03/russian-court-convicts-photographer-grigory-skvortsov-on-treason-charges-a106038.html
- The conviction of Photographer Grigory Skvortsov on treason charges in a closed-doors trial has sparked debate in the general news and crime-and-justice sectors, with critics claiming the move is politically motivated and a violation of freedom of information and expression.
- The ongoing war-and-conflicts in Ukraine and the restrictive politics of Russia have raised concerns about the country's adherence to principles of openness and accountability, as seen in the Skvortsov case, where state secrets and political motives are at the heart of the dispute.
