The 2nd Eastern District Military Court sentenced 38-year-old native of Chita, Maxim Ivannikov*, to 15 years in a maximum-security colony for 'treason', 'calls for extremism' on the internet, 'participation in the activities of a terrorist organization', and 'assistance to terrorism', reported 'People of Baikal' citing Ivannikov's wife, Diana.
The trial was closed, so his wife could not disclose the specific charges against the man.
Ivannikov was detained in February 2024. As stated by the Trans-Baikal FSB at the time, since October 2022, he had been the administrator of a group in Telegram, 'which was controlled by the Security Service of Ukraine'.
'The Chita resident conducted anti-Russian propaganda. He also collected and transmitted personal data of Russian military personnel and their relatives to foreigners. <...> The suspect was detained while attempting to leave the country to seek political asylum at the US embassy', wrote the TASS agency citing the FSB.
In March 2024, Maxim Ivannikov was added to the Rosfinmonitoring's register of 'terrorists and extremists'.
Until 2019, Ivannikov served in the army under contract, and after his discharge, he was not officially employed.
* Listed as a 'terrorist and extremist'.
Photo: People of Baikal