Sudden Transfer of Ivan Safronov Raises Questions About Detention Conditions
A lawyer for Ivan Safronov, Dmitry Katchev, described the journalist’s unexpected departure from a colony near Krasnoyarsk as a complete surprise to Safronov’s legal team. The move came as a shock to Katchev and his colleague Daniil Nikiforov, who had been preparing for upcoming meetings with Safronov. Details emerged after Katchev documented the situation for Kommersant, noting that Safronov’s family had planned to visit him soon.
In April, Safronov’s supporters conducted a three-day visit, and now a brief visit has been arranged. The defense team had intended to travel to Krasnoyarsk the following week to speak directly with Safronov and to verify the conditions of his high-security confinement. The lawyers also aimed to discuss potential legal actions: challenging a decision by the colony’s disciplinary commission to move him, and possibly appealing the conviction at the Supreme Court after the appeals court affirmed it. They also hoped to address other legal avenues. Note: quotes reflect statements from the defense as consolidated by the reporting source [Citation: internal report summarizing defense strategy].
However, Katchev reported that information from people connected to the colony indicated Safronov was no longer present at the facility. Emails sent to him were returned with the message that the addressee had left. By Monday morning, such notices continued to arrive. The defense team has initiated a range of steps to determine Safronov’s exact location and the reasons behind his transfer, but investigators warned that confirming the facts could take several days. The lawyers, meanwhile, are seeking to accelerate the process where possible [Citation: defense correspondence with local authorities].
One theory under consideration is that IK-7, the historical facility in the village of Areiskoye, may have been closed for modernization or repurposing, leading to Safronov’s reassignment to another institution. This site was established in 1957 and has undergone several upgrades over the decades. Recent chatter about potential renovations, closures, or repurposing has fueled speculation about an evacuation timeline that could align with broader changes in the penitentiary system. Defense representatives caution that such possibilities remain speculative and stress the need for verified information. They contend Safronov could have been relocated to a nearby facility within the jurisdiction of the Krasnoyarsk Federal Penitentiary Service, though they emphasize that other scenarios remain plausible and require confirmation [Citation: industry chatter and official statements].
Earlier, the Supreme Court left in force the sentence against Ivan Safronov, a journalist and former adviser to the Roscosmos head, who has been serving a 22-year term for treason. The legality and implications of that ruling continue to be contested by Safronov’s supporters and his legal team, who have signaled readiness to pursue further remedies within the appellate system and constitutional avenues if new evidence or arguments emerge [Citation: court decision record].