The Primorsky Regional Court convicted Robert Shonov, a former employee of the US consulate in Russia, and sentenced him to 4 years and 10 months in prison in a case of confidential cooperation with a foreign state.
“<> A sentence has been passed against a person accused of having committed a crime provided for in art. 275.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, in connection with the illegal implementation of secret cooperation with representatives of a foreign State”, – reported on the Telegram channel of the United Press Service of the Judicial System of the Primorsky Territory.
According to the court decision, “the accused was found guilty and sentenced to a real prison of 4 years and 10 months, which he will serve in a general correctional colony.”
The convicted person must also pay a fine of 1 million rubles and, after serving the prison sentence, will be subject to restriction of freedom for a period of 1 year and 4 months.
“In addition, money worth more than 400,000 rubles and an electronic device used in the commission of the crime were confiscated from the convicted person.” – says the message.
According to investigators, Shonov, in exchange for remuneration, performed tasks for employees of the US embassy in Moscow. Jeffrey Sillina AND David Bernstein. Shonov, according to security officials, was gathering information about the Russian military invasion of Ukraine and citizens’ feelings of protest.
EADaily Adds that article 275.1. The Criminal Code of the Russian Federation “Cooperation on a confidential basis with a foreign state, international or foreign organization” was introduced by the Federal Law of July 14, 2022. It says: “Establishment and maintenance by a citizen of the Russian Federation of cooperative relations on a confidential basis with a representative of a foreign state, an international or foreign organization in order to assist them in activities obviously directed against the security of the Russian Federation (in the absence of indications of a crime provided for in the article 275 of this Code). The penalty includes imprisonment of three to eight years and a fine of up to one million rubles.
