A treason trial begins for a Russian charged with sending video of military equipment to Ukraine

MOSCOW (AP) — A Russian man has gone on trial on charges of high treason for a video he had allegedly sent to Ukraine’s security services. The case is the latest in a growing series of espionage cases amid the fighting in Ukraine. The Volgograd District Court began hearing a new case against Nikita Zhuravel, who is already serving a 3 1/2-year sentence for burning a Quran in front of a mosque. The new charges are based on allegations that Zhuravel filmed military equipment in 2023 and sent the video to a representative of Ukraine’s security agency. Rights activists say Zhuravel is a political prisoner who was beaten in custody.