the Most mysterious in the case of the accused in the treason of Ivan Safronov — this is the moment when the public knowledge turned into a state secret. Article 275 of the criminal code “high treason” written in such a way that it is easy to rephrase according to Bulgakov: “never talk to unknown”.
the”Father” of American analytical intelligence, CIA analyst Sherman Kent, in 1947 claimed that in peacetime 80 percent of “sensitive” information is available from public sources. In 2004 George Bush signed a law “On the reform of the intelligence and combat the terrorist threat”, containing guidance on the development of the National center of intelligence based on the analysis of open source information. Today the specialists of the centre prepared daily, with more than 2,000 documents, including translations, analytical reviews, videos, maps, etc.
From what is known about the case Safronov: that he is for the money conveyed some information the Czech side (apparently, the office, once associated with intelligence). There are wiretaps of his talks and the details of the correspondence.
If Safronov knew that working for the enemy, knew that for the money it is a secret information — then he is a traitor. But.
we Have the presumption of innocence. And purely emotionally, I can’t believe that Ivan consciously committed treason. (Yes, all arguments in his defense is based on emotions, but forgive, and who can watch in a detached way, when “our beat”?).
But in the situation when the journalist was offered a good fee to write articles for Western publications on military subjects and he agreed, I can imagine. It does not prohibited by law. The man spoke with clients, corresponded with them, discussed the subject — that’s you and these wiretaps.
Most interesting of all — expertise. I’m here on Parade in Moscow drew attention to the BMPT combat vehicle tank support. Quite identified her weapons. Saw her with another combat unit on the official video of the Ministry of defense in the exercise, saw her on public video from Syria. It is obvious from this what the conflict oriented army. If I write an article about it for the Western magazine, will receive a fee — I also go to jail for treason? After all, it will certainly take work the same the American national intelligence center. And the examination will probably show that there was disclosure of information “about the tactical-technical characteristics and capabilities of combat use of weapons and military equipment” as written in the Law “On state secret”.
And now let us remember the work of the scientist Mitko, who was accused of passing our secrets to China. As told “MK” the lawyer of the scientist, the documents that contained�� state secrets, the KGB photographed at the airport, and then gave Mitko to fly with them and to announce the lectures in the Chinese University. It would seem absurd. Why allow to flow out of the country the secret? But, perhaps, not that it was secret (because, again from public sources), and then in the notes to article 275 of the criminal code of the Russian Federation “About treason,” it is written that “Crime is considered ended from the moment of the transfer of such information to a foreign state…”. So what seems more important — to prevent leakage or to catch a spy?
Well, what is the external effect of preventive conversations by the FSB of type “WAN, you’re not doing something…”? But from the high-profile arrest — a good effect.
That’s it so let me me argue with the press Secretary of the President Dmitry Peskov about the case Safronov. Peskov said that one should not confuse public resonance with resonance media, and mistrust of journalists is not a reason to change the mode of consideration of cases with secrecy.
some other reason. And for the Kremlin, it is the test of wisdom and foresight. Just because the public outcry created the media. And it Safronova is a turning point. Either society will see that security officers have clean hands, either will ultimately believe that they have, and therefore in power, carte Blanche for chaos. Because of state secrets (in current form) allows you to not care about the opinion of the people.
Read also: the case Safronova Russia can “blind”
