Russia sets record for espionage and treason convictions in 2025, rights groups say

Since the start of 2025, 468 people have been convicted in Russia on charges of espionage, treason, confidential cooperation with foreign organizations, or aiding the enemy, according to calculations made by Parubets Analytics on behalf of the rights group Perviy Otdel (Department One). The figure marks a new record. Previously, the year with the highest number of verdicts in espionage and treason cases was 2024, when 385 people were convicted.

Additionally, at least 420 people are currently under investigation, and another 179 cases are being reviewed by courts across the country. As of Dec. 10, 2025, the total number of defendants in such cases stood at no fewer than 1,627, according to the analysis.

Rights advocates note that 1,431 people, or 88% of all defendants, became targets of law enforcement after the start of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine. Thirty-five percent of all defendants are Ukrainian citizens.

The report also points to a shift in law enforcement practice since February 2022. According to the research, charges under “espionage” statutes are increasingly brought against people who had no actual access to state secrets. Evidence cited in such cases includes donations, correspondence, contacts with alleged provocateurs, and “intent” to commit a crime.

Such cases are typically heard behind closed doors. Court records often contain no identifying information about defendants, and a significant portion of case materials are classified, effectively excluding public oversight of the proceedings. Researchers estimate that courts conceal the names of defendants in 75% of these cases.

The year 2025 has also seen the advent of harsher sentences, with the median prison term in treason and espionage cases rising from 12 years to 15. For the first time, courts handed down life sentences in cases involving “espionage” statutes. In 2025, there were at least four such sentences, all of them in cases linked to the war against Ukraine.

Among those convicted in 2025 were at least 161 Ukrainian citizens. Rights advocates emphasize that in occupied territories, Ukrainians are often forced to obtain Russian passports and are then prosecuted for treason as Russian citizens.

The study also notes that official statistics significantly understate the scale of the prosecutions. According to the Judicial Department of Russia’s Supreme Court, 189 people were convicted under “espionage” articles in 2024, while analysis of court materials shows at least 385 verdicts. A similar discrepancy has been observed in 2025.

The research was prepared by the Parubets Analytics research center, founded by Kirill Parubets. The data are current as of Dec. 10, 2025. The authors stress that because of the lack of transparency in the Russian justice system, the real number of defendants in treason and espionage cases may be significantly higher.