Woman arrested in Moscow on charges of high treason

A woman named as Ekaterina Zavalishina was arrested in Moscow on charges of high treason. She will remain in custody until August 13 for handing over information that constituted a state secret to a citizen of another country, Interfax reports.

"A pre-trial restriction in the form of detention for two months was chosen against Zavalishina Ekaterina Sergeevna, who was suspected of committing a crime under Art. 275 of the Criminal Code ("High treason”),” a Moscow court said, RBC reports.

The woman, a resident of Moscow, was arrested by the FSB (Federal Security Bureau) on suspicion of treason. The court meeting was held behind closed doors, as the materials of the criminal case are classified. It was only said that Zavalishina was charged with delivering information constituting a state secret to a representative of a foreign state. It also remains unknown which foreign state it could be.

High treason is punishable with a prison term from 12 to 20 years. According to the Criminal Code, high treason implies espionage, delivery of state secrets to a foreign state, an international or foreign organization, as well as any assistance to another country in activities directed against the security of Russia.

After the start of the military special operation in Ukraine, the Prosecutor General's Office reminded that Russian citizens who provided financial and other assistance to a foreign state could be accused of high treason. Such actions may include "financial, logistical, consulting or other assistance to a foreign state, international or foreign organization or their representatives in activities directed against the security of the Russian Federation.