Russia jails journalist for 12 years on treason charge

Russian journalist Darya Shipacheva was convicted of treason by a Moscow court ​and sentenced Wednesday to 12 ‌years in a penal colony, the Interfax news agency reported. The trial was held behind ​closed doors, and no details of ​the case were officially released. Interfax, ⁠citing other media, reported that the ​charges stemmed from an alleged money transfer ​to Ukraine. Shipacheva pleaded guilty and received the minimum sentence for the offense. In a short video ​posted by independent news outlet Mediazona ​from inside the courtroom, she looked shocked as ‌the ⁠verdict was announced. According to Mediazona, she specialized in science and medical journalism and worked for several prominent Russian media organizations. Russia ​has tightened ​censorship ⁠laws and increased pressure on independent media since launching its ​war in Ukraine in 2022. Prior to ​the ⁠verdict, the Committee to Protect Journalists, an independent non-profit organization that promotes press ⁠freedom ​worldwide, said 29 journalists ​were imprisoned in Russia in connection with their work.