Russian IT specialist jailed for 13.5 years over alleged CIA espionage attempt

Russia on Tuesday sentenced an IT specialist to 13 and a half years in prison for allegedly attempting to pass state secrets to the CIA, state media reported.

Moscow City Court found IT worker Firuz Dadoboyev "guilty of treason for the benefit of the US", TASS state news agency reported, citing the FSB security agency.

It reported Dadoboyev works in IT at a Moscow company, is originally from Tajikistan and has dual citizenship.

The FSB said Dadoboyev illegally acquired information that was a "state secret" and planned to pass it to a US intelligence officer.

"With this aim, he set up contact with the CIA," it claimed, adding that Dadoboyev was detained by FSB officers in October 2022 and had since "repented" his actions.

Since launching its Ukraine military offensive in February 2022, Russia has issued numerous harsh sentences for treason.