Russian journalist Daria Shipacheva sentenced to 12 years for treason

Daria Shipacheva treason sentence 12‑year prison money transfer Ukraine closed‑door trial

A Moscow court sentenced journalist Daria Shipacheva to 12 years in a semi‑open penal colony for treason. The trial was held behind closed doors and lasted about 90 minutes. Shipacheva pleaded guilty and received the minimum penalty allowed, together with a fine of 300,000 rubles (about €3,600) and the confiscation of roughly 1.5 million rubles.

Prosecutors said the charge stemmed from a money transfer to a relative in Ukraine. Shipacheva was arrested on 23 April 2025 after special police entered her Moscow apartment, was detained in an undisclosed location, then transferred to the Rostov‑on‑Don region before the sentencing. She had worked as a scientific and medical reporter for outlets such as Forbes Russia, RBC and Takie Dela.

The case has drawn international criticism. The Committee to Protect Journalists noted that 29 journalists are currently imprisoned in Russia, highlighting growing repression of independent media since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Entities: Committee for the Protection of Journalists · Committee to Protect Journalists · Daria Shipacheva · Daria Shipačevova · Forbes Russia · Interfax · Mediazona · Moscow City Court · Moscow Court · Russia · Russian Government · Ukraine

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 5 SOURCES] The trial was held behind closed doors with no public details released. (ad224c03-08c0-4110-9e0c-036579fd3522, 0c55a6b7-9ec7-4095-859c-43bb9c28b711, ce1ad85f-27b7-4c68-89cd-4e8f53ca0844, 021295)
[● 5 SOURCES] The conviction was based on a bank transfer of funds to a relative in Ukraine. (ad224c03-08c0-4110-9e0c-036579fd3522, 0c55a6b7-9ec7-4095-859c-43bb9c28b711, ce1ad85f-27b7-4c68-89cd-4e8f53ca0844, 021295)
[● 5 SOURCES] She pleaded guilty and received the minimum penalty allowed for the offence. (ad224c03-08c0-4110-9e0c-036579fd3522, 0c55a6b7-9ec7-4095-859c-43bb9c28b711, ce1ad85f-27b7-4c68-89cd-4e8f53ca0844, 021295)
[● 5 SOURCES] She was fined 300,000 rubles (about €3,600). (ad224c03-08c0-4110-9e0c-036579fd3522, 0c55a6b7-9ec7-4095-859c-43bb9c28b711, ce1ad85f-27b7-4c68-89cd-4e8f53ca0844, 021295)
[● 7 SOURCES] Daria Shipacheva was sentenced by a Moscow court to 12 years in a penal colony for treason. (ad224c03-08c0-4110-9e0c-036579fd3522, 0c55a6b7-9ec7-4095-859c-43bb9c28b711, ce1ad85f-27b7-4c68-89cd-4e8f53ca0844, 021295)
[● 5 SOURCES] She was arrested on 23 April 2025 after police entered her Moscow apartment. (ad224c03-08c0-4110-9e0c-036579fd3522, 0c55a6b7-9ec7-4095-859c-43bb9c28b711, ce1ad85f-27b7-4c68-89cd-4e8f53ca0844, 021295)
[● 7 SOURCES] The Committee for the Protection of Journalists reports that 29 journalists are currently detained in Russia for their work. (ad224c03-08c0-4110-9e0c-036579fd3522, 0c55a6b7-9ec7-4095-859c-43bb9c28b711, ce1ad85f-27b7-4c68-89cd-4e8f53ca0844, 021295)
[● 5 SOURCES] She was born in Ukraine and worked as a freelance journalist for Forbes Russia and other outlets. (ad224c03-08c0-4110-9e0c-036579fd3522, 0c55a6b7-9ec7-4095-859c-43bb9c28b711, ce1ad85f-27b7-4c68-89cd-4e8f53ca0844, 021295)