Gennady Stepakhno, a 76-year-old former regional legislator and ex-leader of the Murmansk Communist Party branch, has been detained on suspicion of treason. According to the Federal Security Service (FSB), Stepakhno is accused of transmitting classified government documents and data regarding engineering infrastructure to Ukrainian intelligence services. The suspect, who served in the regional assembly for over a decade, was arrested on October 9 and remains in pre-trial detention. While official details remain limited, local reports suggest the investigation might stem from discussions regarding a pharmaceutical project, while other sources speculate the case could be linked to internal party disputes. If convicted of treason, Stepakhno faces a potential life sentence. This arrest follows a series of legal actions against political figures in the wake of recent regional elections.
Source : The Moscow Times
