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Russian Journalists Fear Growing Media Persecution After Treason Arrest

Reuters

   MOSCOW - Russian journalists have launched a petition demanding treason
   allegations against a former reporter be made public, fearing the case
   is bogus and that media are being increasingly persecuted.

   Ivan Safronov, a former newspaper journalist working at Russia's space
   agency since May, was detained by security agents outside his flat on
   Tuesday and accused of passing military secrets to the Czech Republic.
   He denies the charges.

   At a closed hearing, the court ordered Safronov to be held in custody
   for two months. One of his lawyers, Ivan Pavlov, said the hearing was
   unusual as the state investigator had not presented any evidence.

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