The Federal Security Service's Murmansk regional directorate said Stepakhno had access to the materials through his parliamentary powers, TASS and RIA Novosti reported. A court ordered him held for two months under Article 275 of the Russian Criminal Code, which covers treason, according to OVD-Info.
The FSB said the basis for the case was the former deputy's anti-war position. Stepakhno was detained no later than October 9, the Murmansk outlet Arctic Observer reported, citing sources. Those sources believe the case was opened after Stepakhno passed a relative abroad information about the construction of a pharmaceutical plant in the region involving India.
According to the security service, Stepakhno handed staff of the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine's Defense Ministry documents on the work of the Murmansk regional government and data on engineering facilities in the region.
Stepakhno is one of the oldest Communist deputies in the Murmansk regional legislature. He was elected to four convocations between 2007 and 2026 and headed the Communist Party faction. He did not win a seat in the new convocation. Trained as an oceanologist, he holds a candidate degree in geographical sciences and worked at the Murmansk Oceanarium and the Northern Fishermen's Union.
Shortly before his detention, the Murmansk branch of the Communist Party opened a personal case against him and demanded his expulsion from the party, Bi-port reported. The party's press service has not commented on the prosecution of the Murmansk Communist.