MOSCOW. Aug 3 (Interfax) - The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) has assured the Russian Union of Journalists that the charge of high treason brought against Ivan Safronov, an adviser to the head of Roscosmos, is not connected to his previous journalistic work.
"The crime Ivan Safronov is charged with is not related to his professional journalistic activities," the FSB public relations center said in response to an inquiry made by the Russian Union of Journalists. A copy of the response was published on the website of the Russian Union of Journalists on Monday.
The Russian Union of Journalists earlier contacted Federal Security Service Director Alexander Bortnikov regarding Safronov's prosecution.
A copy of the official address posted on the Russian Union of Journalists website, signed by its official Vladimir Solovyov, says that Safronov previously worked as a special correspondent for the newspapers Kommersant and Vedomosti.
"The fact of Safronov's detention drew a broad public response," the Russian Union of Journalists said.
Safronov has been charged with high treason. He was detained on July 7, and a court ordered his arrest.
According to his defense lawyers, investigators believe that Safronov was recruited by a Czech special service in 2012 and provided its official with secret information on weapons supplies and the actions of the Russian Armed Forces in African and Middle Eastern countries in 2017. Investigators believe that the United States was the end recipient of the secret information.
Safronov denies any wrongdoing and believes his criminal case is related to his journalistic work.
Before Roscosmos, Safronov worked as a journalist for the Kommersant and Vedomosti newspapers, specializing, in particular, in defense and the space industry.