MOSCOW, July 19 (RAPSI) — The Moscow City Court upheld a restraining order against Ivan Pavlov, a lawyer for former journalist Ivan Safronov accused of treason, for allegedly disclosing information related to a police investigation.

Pavlov is prohibited to communicate with witnesses in the criminal case with some exceptions, send and receive postal messages, use the means of communication and the Internet, with the exception of the use of telephone in the event of an emergency, as well as for purposes of communication with investigators and the controlling bodies.

Pavlov’s case is related to an article published by Vedomosti about journalist Ivan Safronov accused of treason. Investigators believe the lawyer gave the newspaper a copy of the decision to bring the journalist to criminal prosecution and told information agencies and Kommersant newspaper about an interrogation of a secret witness in Safronov’s case.

Under the respective articles of the Russian Criminal Code, the charges brought against the lawyer envisage punishment in the form of compulsory work for up to 480 hours, or correctional labor for up to two years, or detention for up to three months.

The arrested lawyer is known for his work for human rights association "Team 29", which provides legal assistance to Safronov and Navalny’s Foundation that was declared a foreign agent and an extremist organization.

The Lefortovsky District Court of Moscow on April 30 extended detention of Safronov until July.