Sever.Realii: Since the beginning of the war in Russia, at least 40 criminal cases have been opened under the article on cooperation with a foreign state

In the two years since the criminal article on cooperation with a foreign state or international organization (275.1 of the Criminal Code) was introduced, at least 40 cases have been opened under it, Sever.Realii calculated based on data published in the public domain.

The article on cooperation with a foreign state was introduced into the Criminal Code in July 2022. During this time, 41 people became defendants in criminal cases under Article 275.1 of the Criminal Code. Several people were charged under a number of articles, which included an episode on "confidential cooperation" - such cases were also included in the calculations.

The largest number of criminal cases under Article 275.1 of the Criminal Code was initiated in 2023 — 20. In the first six months of 2024, 14 cases were initiated, and in 2022 — five.

As Sever.Realii writes, the defendants are most often accused of "connections with Ukraine" or with the "Freedom of Russia" legion (25 cases). In three more cases, cases were opened due to alleged connections with Poland, Latvia and Great Britain. In 12 cases, the reasons for the persecution are unknown.

In total, six sentences were handed down in these cases: one in 2023, and five more in 2024. The sentences range from two to five years in prison, although the maximum penalty for cooperation with a foreign state is eight years in prison.

As Sever.Realii notes, sometimes FSB officers find a person subscribed to the social networks of the Freedom of Russia legion and deliberately try to provoke him. The operative introduces himself as a legion fighter or an SBU officer and asks him to complete several tasks: for example, to photograph a military facility, set fire to a military registration and enlistment office, or to post leaflets.

Earlier, the court sentenced the sons of Lipetsk priest Igor Ashcheulov - Ioann, Alexei and Timofey - to terms of 17 to 17.5 years in prison for their attempt to join the Freedom of Russia legion, which is recognized by Russian authorities as a terrorist organization.

Ioann, Aleksey and Timofey Ashcheulov were detained in July 2023. According to investigators, the sons of a Lipetsk priest tried to cross the border of the Kursk and Sumy regions and then join the Freedom of Russia legion.

During the arrest, the security forces confiscated the brothers' phone, in which they found correspondence between Ioann Ashcheulov and a representative of the legion. Ioann also contacted the "I Want to Live" project, which is used by Russian servicemen who want to surrender to the Ukrainian army. In this way, he tried to find out the safest way to cross the border between the two countries.

At the very beginning of the investigation, all three brothers confessed to what they had done and even spoke of "sincere remorse." According to them, they decided to join the "Freedom of Russia" legion because of their opposition views.