Russia is in a time machine - back to basics

Putin's Staline paranoia mode - arresting everybody.

Russian journalists in shock as FSB hunts enemy within

By Sarah Rainsford

BBC News, Moscow

As Ivan Safronov was led into court, hands cuffed and head pushed down by two masked guards, he managed just one sentence. "I'm not guilty," he told a crowd of supporters packed into the corridor. 

The arrest of the former military correspondent has shocked fellow Russian journalists, who describe the claim by the FSB security service that he handed state secrets to Czech Intelligence as "absurd".

"My first thought was that I'd gone back two decades in a time machine," says Grigory Pasko, recalling his own prosecution in 1997 - the last time a Russian journalist was charged with treason.

I think they were afraid to touch journalists after that," Mr Pasko told the BBC this week. 

"Back then, Russia had an international reputation. It was included in international structures and cared about the world's opinion," he argues.

"Now Vladimir Putin's been in power for 20 years and he doesn't care what anyone thinks," he says, pointing out that Russia's president just amended the constitution to give himself two more terms in the Kremlin.

"There are no brakes now; no restraints. They can do what they want, how they want and to whomever they want," he believes. 

Despite official insistence that Mr Safronov's case is not linked to his journalism, Grigory Pasko suspects he's been arrested - like him - for touching on one too many sensitive topics.

"It's like a warning to journalists not to poke their noses in."

How Russia has stepped up its hunt for enemies

Prosecutions for spying and treason have increased significantly since 2014, when relations with the West became openly hostile following Russia's annexation of Crimea.

"Scientists were already at risk; now journalists have fallen into that group, too."

What's secret?

The risk increased in 2012 when the law on treason - Article 275 - was amended. 

The Kremlin denies Russia is in the grip of any "mania". 

Those involved are barred from disclosing details and trials are held behind closed doors, formally because of the classified data involved. 

Even the journalist's defence team don't know yet what the charge is based upon. 

"When you catch a real spy, you show evidence to the whole world: usually money, maybe a flash drive. It's good FSB propaganda, to show their use to society and their power," believes Gennady Gudkov, a former Soviet counter-intelligence officer turned opposition politician.

"In Safronov's case we see nothing of that kind. It's very strange and suspicious."

When journalists protested in support of Ivan Safronov outside the FSB headquarters, more than two dozen were detained.

State media, which once came out in support of Mr Pasko, have since reported extensively and enthusiastically on Russia's "enemies". 

"Those arguments are to convince Putin's electorate that they were right to choose him for life," Grigory Pasko himself believes, referring to this month's constitutional reform.

"The message is: only Putin can save us from eternal enemies and spies - including journalists."