A Russian court on Thursday handed a 35-year-old photographer, Grigory Skvortsov, a 16-year prison sentence for treason following a closed-door trial, though the specific charges were not disclosed.
Skvortsov, who specialises in architectural photography, denied the accusations.
During his pre-trial detention, Skvortsov told a Russian rights group that he had provided a US journalist with a book about Soviet-era bunkers and other materials, all of which were declassified and publicly available online. Despite this, the authorities accused him of treason.
The Perm Regional Court confirmed the sentence, stating that Skvortsov had pleaded not guilty. The trial’s secretive nature is typical of treason cases in Russia, where prosecutors rarely reveal evidence publicly.
Since Russia launched its military campaign in Ukraine in February 2022, the Kremlin has intensified repression at home. Journalists, scientists, academics, and critics with Western connections have increasingly come under suspicion and faced harsh penalties.
Skvortsov has publicly opposed Moscow’s war in Ukraine. He also alleged that during his arrest in November 2023, officers from Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) beat him and attempted to coerce a false confession.
