A Moscow judge sentenced journalist Daria Shipacheva to 12 years in prison on treason charges, reportedly linked to a wire transfer she made to a family member.
Key facts
- •Daria Shipacheva was sentenced to 12 years in prison by a Moscow City Court judge.
- •The treason conviction reportedly stems from a wire transfer sent to a family member in Ukraine.
- •Shipacheva was arrested in April 2025 and later transferred to the Lefortovo prison in Moscow.
- •The trial was held behind closed doors and lasted approximately 90 minutes.
- •Shipacheva had pleaded guilty and cooperated with authorities prior to sentencing.
A Moscow City Court judge sentenced journalist Daria Shipacheva to 12 years in prison after finding her guilty of treason. The trial, which took place behind closed doors, reportedly lasted 90 minutes. Shipacheva, a former freelance medical journalist for outlets including Forbes Russia, was arrested in April 2025.
By the numbers
Case Details and Charges
According to the science outlet T-Invariant, the treason charge is based on a wire transfer Shipacheva made to a civilian family member in Ukraine. An acquaintance stated that investigators reinterpreted the purpose of the transfer to build the case. Shipacheva had pleaded guilty and cooperated with law enforcement, with her defense team requesting a lighter sentence.
Detention and Background
Following her arrest in April 2025, Shipacheva was held in a detention facility in Rostov-on-Don before being moved to Moscow's Lefortovo prison. Prior to her arrest, she had faced online harassment from the banned group "Male State" due to her feminist views. Between 2019 and 2025, she worked as a freelance journalist for various publications, including RBC and Takie Dela.
Timeline
- 2019-2025Shipacheva worked as a freelance medical journalist for Forbes Russia and other outlets.
- April 2025Shipacheva was arrested and initially detained in Rostov-on-Don.
- First half of 2026Russian courts convicted 312 people on charges of treason, espionage, and illegal cooperation.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by The Moscow Times.
