Roskosmos announced the dismissal of Ivan Safronov, who was sentenced to 22 years in a case of treason, from the post of adviser to the head of the state corporation, TASS reports.
“In accordance with the court verdict, which has entered into force, Ivan Safronov was dismissed under clause 4 of part one of Article 83 of the Labor Code of the Russian Federation in connection with a conviction to a punishment that precludes the continuation of his previous work,” the state corporation said.
Safronov was detained on July 7, 2020. He was charged in the case of treason (Article 275 of the Criminal Code) and sent under arrest. In Roskosmos, which was then headed by Dmitry Rogozin, Safronov worked since May of that year. The state corporation then announced that the journalist continues to be listed there as an adviser to the general director. Informing about Safronov’s dismissal on February 9, Roskosmos explained that the journalist did not receive a salary, because absenteeism was affixed to his time sheet.
According to investigators, Safronov collaborated with the secret services of NATO countries. He was charged with receiving $248,000 from political scientist Demuri Voronin, also accused of treason. In addition, the investigation claimed that Safronov’s friend Martin Larisch was an agent of Czech intelligence. He worked in Moscow from 2010 to 2012 as a correspondent for the newspaper Lidové noviny and then set up a news agency that distributed a security digest by subscription.
Safronov denies his guilt and twice found himself out of a deal with the investigation. He is sure that the criminal prosecution is connected with journalistic activity.
The Moscow City Court passed the verdict on the journalist on September 5. In addition to 22 years in prison in a strict regime colony, he was fined 500 thousand rubles. In December, an appeals court upheld the verdict. Safronov was given one of the most severe sentences in the case of treason: art. 275 of the Criminal Code provides for a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. The judge may appoint a longer term if the defendant was charged with several episodes.
