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Treason cases were once rare in Russia, with only a handful brought annually. But in the past decade and especially since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the number has soared, along with espionage prosecutions. Read more.
Why this matters:
The charges are ensnaring citizens and foreigners alike. Victims range from Kremlin critics and independent journalists to veteran scientists One rights group counted over 100 known treason cases in 2023.
The prosecutions are usually held in strict isolation in Moscow’s notorious Lefortovo Prison, their trials are held behind closed doors and almost always result in convictions and long prison terms. They are investigated almost exclusively by the powerful Federal Security Service, or FSB, with specific charges and evidence shrouded in secrecy.
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