A Russian court has sentenced Nikolai Zyuzev, a Canadian-Russian national, to seven years in a penal colony after convicting him of high treason, state news agency RIA reported on Wednesday.
Zyuzev was convicted over allegations that he cooperated with separatist movements based outside Russia and helped train leaders of what Russian authorities described as “national liberation movements” involving ethnic minority groups.
Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), cited by RIA, said Zyuzev’s activities were aimed at undermining the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
RIA did not report how Zyuzev pleaded to the charges or provide details of his defence during the proceedings.
The FSB also alleged that Zyuzev distributed materials classified by Russian authorities as “extremist” and carried out work commissioned by European Union government bodies and think tanks.
Russia is home to dozens of indigenous ethnic minority groups, including Muslim Tatars and Buddhist Buryats, spread across the country.
RIA reported that Zyuzev was arrested in the Komi Republic in Russia’s Arctic north, where the case against him was brought.
Goodness Anunobi
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