Support The Moscow Times!

Russian Court Jails Man Accused of Spying for U.S.

Dmitry Shatresov. Video grab

A Russian man who tried to pass on classified information to the United States was sentenced to 17 years in jail for "high treason," Russian news agencies reported Thursday.

Dmitry Shatresov, who was arrested in January 2024, "illegally obtained" state secrets and "intended to transfer them to an American intelligence representative" before he was caught by law enforcement, the RIA Novosti news agency reported.

He was convicted of high treason and sentenced to 17 years in a high-security prison on Wednesday, Moscow's court service said on Telegram.

Since the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Russian law enforcement authorities have relentlessly pursued people they accuse of espionage and treason, arresting dozens of Russian nationals and some foreigners.

Rights groups say Moscow is using the charges to punish its critics, as well as those opposed to war in Ukraine.

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more