A Russian court sentenced physicist Alexander Shiplyuk to 15 years in prison for treason, adding to a growing list of scientists charged with sharing secrets about Russia’s hypersonic missile program. The conviction highlights Russia’s crackdown on experts involved in this advanced technology, which President Putin claims gives Russia a strategic edge.
Ten individuals have been charged with treason in Nigeria for their alleged role in nationwide protests against rising living costs. The protests, which drew thousands to the streets, were met with a violent crackdown by security forces. Amnesty International condemned the charges as politically motivated and called for the release of all arrested protesters.
Ksenia Karelina, a Russian-American ballerina, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison by a Russian court for donating a small amount of money to a US-based charity supporting Ukraine. The conviction comes just weeks after a major prisoner swap between Russia and the West, sparking concerns about the timing and potential use of the case for political leverage.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has strongly criticized opposition leaders for making statements that he claims support Pakistan. Shinde has called for such individuals to be charged with treason and imprisoned, expressing frustration over their lack of tolerance for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rise to power and the growing wave of patriotism under his leadership. The Chief Minister has also highlighted the significant contributions made by the current government to the state, particularly in the agricultural sector, while criticizing the lack of progress under previous administrations.
Russia’s Deputy Defense Minister, Timur Ivanov, has been arrested and charged with bribery, sparking speculation about a possible purge among Moscow’s elite. Independent media outlets allege that Ivanov and his family amassed wealth through military contract kickbacks. The arrest has also raised questions about whether Ivanov faces treason charges, which his lawyer denies. The investigation continues, and the court’s decision is pending.
Isreal Easterday, a 23-year-old Kentucky man, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for assaulting two Capitol police officers with pepper spray during the January 6, 2021, riot. Easterday was part of a mob of Donald Trump supporters who stormed the Capitol in an attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. He used pepper spray to temporarily blind two officers who were guarding the East Rotunda Doors of the Capitol.
