A Russian accused of sending a video of weapons to Ukraine is serving 14 years in prison

MOSCOW (AP) – A Russian man was convicted and sentenced to 14 years in prison Monday after being convicted of treason for a video he sent to Ukraine’s security services, the latest in a string of controversial espionage charges.

The Volgograd District Court said that Nikita Zhuravel “did not agree with the political course of the Russian Federation” and corresponded with the representative of the defense of Ukraine on the Internet and performed tasks for him. It did not provide details on the jobs.

Zhuravel is already serving a 3 1/2-year sentence for burning a Quran in front of a mosque, which was handed down in February.

Prosecutors say Zhuravel filmed dozens of military equipment and warplanes in 2023 and sent the video to a representative of Ukraine’s security agency.

Rights activists say Zhuravel is a political prisoner who was beaten and imprisoned.

While in custody ahead of his first sentence, Zhuravel was beaten by the 15-year-old son of Ramzan Kadyrov, the Kremlin-appointed leader of the predominantly Muslim region of Chechnya. The elder Kadyrov posted this video on social media and praised his son, which caused anger in the community.

Government authorities have avoided any criticism of the Chechen hero.

Charges of treason and espionage intensified after President Vladimir Putin sent troops into Ukraine in February 2022. The charges have targeted a range of suspects, from Kremlin critics and independent journalists to scientists, drawing attention from rights groups.

The official definition of treason has been expanded to include the vaguely defined “assistance” of foreign countries or organizations, which effectively results in the prosecution of anyone who contacts foreigners.