800 Russians Charged with Treason Since Ukraine War
Since Russia’s 1997 Criminal Code, over 1,000 treason-related charges have been filed, with a dramatic surge—792 cases—following the 2022 Ukraine invasion. A significant portion of these cases, at least 359 in 2024, resulted in prison sentences, with no acquittals recorded since Vladimir Putin’s ascent to power. Recent high-profile cases include the 12-year sentence for Ksenia Karelina, a dual citizen, for aiding a Ukrainian charity, and other convictions for relatively small donations to Ukraine. The Kremlin’s crackdown also extends to scientists, with numerous specialists in hypersonic technology facing treason charges.
John Q. Hosedrinker