Russian law enforcement authorities pressed treason charges against former independent media manager Pavel Andreyev following nationwide police raids on activists and journalists, state media reported Tuesday, citing the Federal Security Service (FSB).Under Russian law, treason carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.
The FSB did not say whether Andreyev had been taken into custody.Andreyev led the now-exiled regional news outlet7x7 from its founding in 2010 until stepping down in June 2022, several months after Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
At the time, he said he chose to remain in the country despite mounting pressure on independent media.The FSBs Karelia branch accused 7x7 and the Revolt Center, a cultural space in the republic of Komi that Andreyev helped open, of receiving foreign funding, according to the state-run TASS news agency.Law enforcement authorities said they carried out raids across 12 regions to gather evidence against Andreyev and identify alleged accomplices in the investigation.
Several journalists were reportedly detained in the process.Following the raids, the Revolt Centerannounced it was suspending operations indefinitely.A video published by the local news outlet Kominform showed masked FSB agents searching the Revolt Center in Komis capital city of Syktyvkar.
Items displayed in the video included Canadian and U.S.
flags, the business card of the late Polish historian Andrzej Przewonik and various currencies, including Russian rubles, U.S.
dollars and euros.The FSB accused Andreyev of organizing projects aimed at violating Russias territorial integrity and constitutional order and of working with foreign intelligence services for financial gain since 2019.For a long time, Andreyev maintained secret contacts with NATO representatives and foreign intelligence-linked organizations conducting subversive activities inside Russia, the agency said.