Journalist from Russia, sentenced to 12 years in prison for treason / The trial was held behind closed doors

Darya Shipacheva, a journalist from Russia, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison by a court in Moscow, accused of treason for transferring money to Ukraine. Her case was tried behind closed doors, reflecting the intensification of repression against independent media in Russia, in the context of tightening legislation on freedom of expression since the beginning of the war in Ukraine.

Shipacheva, specialized in scientific and medical journalism, admitted her guilt and received the minimum sentence provided for her crime. In a video from the courtroom, she appeared shocked by the verdict. The organization Committee to Protect Journalists highlighted that 29 journalists are imprisoned in Russia due to their professional activities, emphasizing the increasingly restrictive climate for press freedom.