Russia Jails Prominent Human Rights Lawyer 12 Years for Treason

Nov. 12, 2026 Maria Bontsler. @novaya_europe / Telegram A court in Russia’s Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad sentenced prominent human rights lawyer Maria Bontsler to 12 years in a penal colony on treason charges, the legal rights project Slovo Zashite reported Thursday. Bontsler, 66, was arrested in Kaliningrad last May on charges of “confidential cooperation with a foreign state,” which were later upgraded to treason charges. Prosecutors accused Bontsler of passing information to Ukrainian intelligence services about Federal Security Service (FSB) officers who investigated espionage, treason and terrorism cases. They allege she gathered the information while representing defendants in those cases. Bontsler, who became well-known for taking on some of the toughest politically motivated cases throughout her decades-long career, denied the charges. Her lawyers maintained that all the information she allegedly passed to Ukrainian intelligence was public and disclosed in open court hearings. The Nobel Peace Prize-winning human rights group Memorial considers Bontsler a political prisoner. “My administrative and criminal prosecution stems from my professional work in human rights advocacy and legal practice — specifically, from providing qualified legal assistance to dissidents, members of the opposition, and others,” Bontsler said in her final statement to the court. “This is, in effect, a political reprisal against me,” she added. Bontsler’s trial was held behind closed doors, with independent lawyers and Bontsler herself barred from attending hearings. Bontsler said she suffered a number of health problems during her trial, including an instance of cardiac arrest for which she said she did not receive adequate treatment. Read more about: Human rights , Political prisoner , Treason , Court case , Kaliningrad , Regions Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Feature This Imprisoned Mathematician Has Global Support. Will That Help Him in Russian Prison? Azat Miftakhov's recent transfer to a notorious Arctic prison — and the alleged torture he has faced — have left supporters fearing for his life. 8 Min read Feature A Russian Photographer Shared Public Info on Soviet Bunkers. He’s Now in Prison for Treason. Grigory Skvortsov, a photographer from Perm known for his striking images of industrial landscapes, was sentenced to 16 years in prison. 3 Min read The Baymak Case: Modern Russia’s Largest Political Trial Residents of Bashkortostan were caught in a sweeping crackdown after protesting the jailing of a prominent Indigenous rights activist. 3 Min read Ex-Tomsk Mayor Targeted By Navalny Investigation Convicted of Abuse of Power Ivan Klyayn was arrested in November 2022, just two months after Navalny published an investigation alleging corruption by officials in Tomsk. 1 Min read