Lithuanian citizen Aristidas Tamosaitis has been given a 12-year prison sentence by a Russian court which found him guilty of espionage, the Interfax news agency reported, citing local news agency BNS.
The trial took place on March 17. The details of the case were not released, as they have been classified as secret, Lithuanian Ambassador to Russia Remigijus Motuzas told the news agency.
The ambassador added that the man's lawyers plan to appeal the court decision.
Tamosaitis was detained by the Federal Security Service on May 19, 2015 in Moscow, while allegedly attempting to “gain access to private materials, affecting the interests of the Russian Federation.”
He later admitted his guilt and said he was a Lithuanian intelligence officer, Interfax reported.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
