Mariana Katzarova mentioned in a brand new report to the UN Normal Meeting that over the previous three years “1000’s have been imprisoned on politically motivated costs, together with treason, espionage, extremism and terrorism, usually on fabricated proof and in closed trials, with detainees starting from kids to the aged.”
The UN Human Rights Council-appointed Particular Rapporteur mentioned her report “reveals a sustained sample through which nationwide safety and public security legal guidelines are weaponised to criminalise dissent and suppress civic area.”
Treason prosecutions soar
Since 2022 when Russia started its full-scale invasion, treason prosecutions have soared from double-digits then, to some 760 verdicts issued by mid-2025.
Espionage has advanced from a narrowly utilized provision right into a broad instrument, she mentioned, with expanded definitions and diminished requirements of prison proof – notably within the context of the Ukraine struggle.
Espionage instances went from simply 5 earlier than the full-scale invasion to 159 instances involving 182 folks by mid-2025. They have been usually mixed with alleged terrorism offences to safe harsher sentences, Ms. Katzarova mentioned.
Russian courts ship greater than 5 terrorism-related sentences a day throughout 2025 – a file excessive.
In the meantime, a nationwide “Checklist of Terrorists and Extremists” has surged from 1,600 names in 2022 to greater than 18,000 in 2025, together with over 150 kids and a whole lot of organisations.
Repression spreads
Earlier this month the Federal Safety Service introduced it was opening a terrorism case towards 22 members of the exiled Russian Anti-war Committee.
“This illustrates the willpower of Russian authorities to prolong repression past nationwide borders,” Ms. Katzarova warned.
These focused embrace outstanding opposition politicians, enterprise folks, journalists, attorneys, artists and teachers who oppose Russia’s struggle towards Ukraine, she mentioned.
On 22 October, the Russian Prosecutor Normal’s Workplace demanded the Supreme Courtroom declare the late opposition chief Alexey Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Basis a “terrorist organisation”, she famous.
“Extremism” provisions with no foundation in worldwide legislation have been used to prosecute anti-war expression, impartial reporting, and people linked to Navalny, the skilled’s report stipulates.
The “extremist” label has additionally been prolonged to non secular and ethnic minorities, Indigenous Peoples, and LGBT individuals. Tons of of convictions for alleged “extremism” have been handed down, together with greater than 100 in instances concentrating on LGBT exercise.
Torture of Ukrainian prisoners
The report paperwork the widespread and systematic torture and ill-treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of struggle and civilians detained below Russian management.
Nearly all of Ukrainian detainees dealing with trials are accused of espionage and terrorism, resulting in prolonged jail sentences.
“Ukrainian detainees have been starved, denied medical care, and tortured, together with by rape and electrical shocks,” Ms. Katzarova mentioned, noting that she had collected credible proof of the participation of medical professionals in torture.
“Hundreds of Ukrainian civilians deported to Russia stay disappeared, with no details about their destiny and whereabouts,” the skilled mentioned.
Ms. Katzarova known as for the rapid launch of all these detained on politically motivated grounds in Russia, in addition to the rapid launch of civilian Ukrainian detainees, together with kids.
‘Perpetrators take pleasure in whole impunity’
She demanded accountability for acts of torture and deaths in custody, and for an finish to Russia’s abuse of nationwide safety and public security laws to silence dissent and anti-war expression.
“Justice inside Russia is unattainable; perpetrators take pleasure in whole impunity. The place home justice is denied, the worldwide neighborhood should act, together with by the framework of common jurisdiction, to make sure accountability and defend these in danger,” the skilled mentioned.
Particular Rapporteurs and different human rights consultants appointed below the particular procedures mandate of the Human Rights Council will not be UN workers and are impartial of any authorities or group. They obtain no wage for his or her work.
