Russia's FSB detains former Radio Free Europe correspondent in treason case

The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) has detained a former freelance correspondent of the internationally recognised “Radio Free Europe” in the Trans-Baikal region on charges of treason, TASS reports, citing the FSB Public Relations Centre (PRC).

“The Federal Security Service in the Trans-Baikal region has stopped the illegal activities of a Russian citizen born in 1960, who is involved in committing state treason,” the PRC stated.

It was established that the Chita resident previously worked as a freelance correspondent for Radio Free Europe. “To assist the Ukrainian side, he joined a Telegram community controlled by the Ukrainian Security Service and transmitted information about local print media resources covering the special military operation, as well as a regional critical infrastructure facility, to organise malicious cyberattacks against them,” the FSB said.

The PRC added that “the information received by Ukrainian intelligence was used to conduct cyberattacks on the specified targets, temporarily hindering the regional authorities from performing their duties.”

During a search of the suspect’s premises, computing and communication devices containing evidence of activities against Russian security were seized. The investigative department of the FSB in the Trans-Baikal region has opened a criminal case under Article 275 (state treason) of the Russian Criminal Code. The suspect has been placed in pre-trial detention.