The Rostov Regional Court has handed down a ten-year sentence in a strict regime colony to Ivan Milovanov for espionage, as reported by Meduza citing the court’s press service.
The details of the espionage charges remain undisclosed, but Article 276 of the Criminal Code suggests that the accused is a foreign national. The court clarified that Ivan Milovanov, the convicted individual, hails from Luhansk.
In December 2022, Vladimir Putin urged security forces to crack down harshly on foreign special services’ activities and swiftly uncover traitors, spies, and saboteurs. Subsequently, there was a significant surge in treason and espionage cases in Russia.
Throughout 2023, a total of 98 individuals in Russia faced charges of treason, 31 of espionage, and 19 of clandestine collaboration with foreigners. At least 88 of these cases made it to court, resulting in convictions in 50 instances, as reported by Siberia.Reality. This marks a historical high in FSB-led repression.
Link from theins.ru