Ivan Safronov: Russia charges former military journalist with treason

For some, the charges are a warning to journalists to stop investigating sensitive subjects, Oliver Carroll reports

(AP)

Russia has formally charged a space official and former military journalist with treason, opening the door to a possible 20 years in prison.

Ivan Safronov, 30, was arrested in central Moscow six days ago, bundled into a van and whisked to Lefortovo, a high-security prison favoured by intelligence services in the east of the city.

Mr Safronov was considered one of the finest military reporters of his generation, and a longtime member of the Kremlin reporter pool, before starting work for as a spokesperson for Roscosmos, Russia’s space agency, in May.