Enemies, not criminals
Political repression existed in Russia even before 2022, but with the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, it has changed significantly: its scale has increased exponentially, and sentences have become even harsher. Today, we are publishing an analytical overview of the tightening of penalties and discussing the legal mechanisms the state is using to achieve this.
Key Findings:
- Since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, political repression has not only increased in quantity but has also changed in nature. Sentences in politically motivated cases have become much harsher: from an average of 6 years and 7 months in 2021 to 11 years in 2026.
- This increase in the severity of sentences is achieved through a variety of complementary measures: formal tightening of legislation, the use of more serious articles of the Russian Criminal Code for prosecution, and an increase in the number of charges.
- Those persecuted for political reasons are effectively singled out as a separate group, toward which the authorities treat with striking cruelty. In their case, the state goes beyond the scope of standard criminal prosecution: they are viewed not as ordinary criminals subject to trial, but as enemies who pose a threat to the very existence of the political regime.
The authorities’ actions starkly highlight political persecution against the backdrop of general law enforcement practices. In Russia, both the number of convictions handed down and the proportion of people deprived of their liberty are declining.
Against this backdrop, the harsher penalties in political cases demonstrate that the Russian state views opposition-minded citizens (or those it considers to be such) not as criminals, but as its enemies and a direct threat.