A judge in Moscow has sentenced journalist Daria Shipacheva to 12 years in prison after finding her guilty of treason. The verdict marks the latest milestone in a case that began with her arrest in April 2025.
The Moscow City Court’s guilty verdict stems from a wire transfer Shipacheva made to a Ukrainian family member, according to T-Invariant, which cited five sources close to her. According to T-Invariant, the prosecution built the entire treason charge around this transaction, reinterpreting its purpose despite the recipient being a civilian relative.
Closed-door proceedings
The trial lasted 90 minutes and took place behind closed doors, as reported by Mediazona. Although Shipacheva’s family and a court-appointed attorney initially decided against releasing details about her arrest or trial, she recently asked for reporters to be invited to the sentencing hearing.
Footage published by Sotavision shows Shipacheva’s shocked reaction to the verdict. Her defense team had requested a lighter sentence, noting that she cooperated with law enforcement and pleaded guilty.
Background and context
Shipacheva was arrested in April 2025 and transferred to a detention facility in Rostov-on-Don. She was later moved to Moscow's Lefortovo prison, according to T-Invariant. Before her arrest, she was subjected to online harassment by the banned ultra-nationalist group 'Male State' over her feminist views.
Between 2019 and 2025, Shipacheva worked as a freelance medical journalist for Forbes Russia, RBC, Takie Dela, and other outlets. Her conviction occurs amid a broader trend; Russian courts convicted a record 312 people on charges of treason, espionage, and illegal cooperation with a foreign state in the first half of 2026, according to Vyorstka.