Documented cases

13 people held for political reasons in Russia, Belarus, Georgia and Central Asia. Search by name, or filter by country, charge, arrest date and sentence.

Country

Urgency

Alena Guseva

Alena Guseva, a resident of Yalta, was sentenced to a two-year suspended imprisonment for aggressive statements about the Russian military. She made these statements in online comments after the start of the war in Ukraine.

LAST UPDATED · SEP 10, 2026

Sevastopol, Occupied territory of Sevastopol

Social media

Unknown female 76

A resident of Sevastopol was prosecuted for calls to extremism. She allegedly left comments in "anti-Russian" Telegram channels calling for "violent actions of an extremist nature."

LAST UPDATED · SEP 10, 2026

Olga Tsirik

Olga Tsirik was sentenced to 16 years in a general regime colony for high treason. She was accused of providing information to Ukrainian intelligence regarding the location of Russian military equipment and ships in Sevastopol.

LAST UPDATED · OCT 15, 2026

Vladimir Zosich

Vladimir Zosich was sentenced to 17 years in a strict regime colony and fined 250,000 rubles for attempting high treason and illegal possession of explosives. Authorities claim he was recruited by the SBU to conduct reconnaissance.

LAST UPDATED · OCT 7, 2026

Aleksandr Glukhoedov

A 66-year-old resident of Sevastopol, Aleksandr Glukhoedov, was sentenced to 18 years in a strict regime colony for high treason and possession of explosives. He was accused of spying for Ukrainian intelligence on Russian military movements.

LAST UPDATED · OCT 15, 2026

Nina Ivanovna Timoshenko

In September 2024, FSB officers detained 66-year-old pensioner Nina Tymoshenko in annexed Sevastopol. According to investigators, she allegedly called the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense's Main Intelligence Directorate hotline and transmitted information about military installations and the location of Russian Black Sea Fleet ships via instant messaging apps. On March 21, 2025, the Sevastopol City Court sentenced her to 16 years' imprisonment in a general regime penal colony, a fine of 200,000 rubles, and one year of restricted freedom. The sentence was upheld by an appellate court in May 2025 and by the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation in February 2026. Human rights activists believe the prosecution is politically motivated, citing the likely forced acquisition of Russian citizenship and the illegality of Russia's actions in the occupied territories.

LAST UPDATED · NOV 9, 2026

Aleksandra Strilets

Aleksandra Strilets and her mother Victoria were sentenced to 12 years in a strict regime colony for high treason. The case is marked by the tragic death of Aleksandra's infant daughter while the mother was in detention.

HEALTH CONCERNS

LAST UPDATED · NOV 3, 2026

Aleksandra Strilets

Aleksandra Strilets and her mother Viktoria were detained on suspicion of collaborating with Ukrainian intelligence by providing photos of Russian military objects. They are currently under a non-disclosure agreement.

HEALTH CONCERNS

LAST UPDATED · OCT 28, 2026

Ksenia Svetlishina

A resident of Sevastopol was sentenced to over 13 years in prison for high treason and vandalism. She was accused of passing information about Russian military movements to Ukraine and leaving pro-Ukrainian graffiti.

LAST UPDATED · NOV 4, 2026

Convicted

RU-CMI8

AGE UNKNOWN

Sevastopol, Occupied territory of Sevastopol

Protest

Unknown male 23

Unknown male 23 was convicted of flag desecration and vandalism for protesting against the Russian military operation in Ukraine. He received a sentence of 1 year and 3 months of restrictions of freedom.

LAST UPDATED · SEP 10, 2026

Kulievich Andrey Yaroslavovich

Andrey Kulievich, likely a Ukrainian citizen who obtained Russian citizenship, was sentenced to 7 years and 6 months in a strict regime colony for preparing a terrorist act and related crimes. He has been imprisoned since June 10, 2020.

LAST UPDATED · AUG 16, 2026

Aleksej Evgenevich Bessarabov

Aleksej Bessarabov, a Ukrainian and Russian citizen, was sentenced to 14 years in a strict regime colony for preparing sabotage as part of an organized group and illegal possession of explosives. He was arrested on November 9, 2016.

LAST UPDATED · AUG 16, 2026

Vladimir Mikhailovich Dudka

Vladimir Dudka, a former Ukrainian naval officer and engineer, was sentenced to 14 years in a strict regime colony for preparing a sabotage as part of an organized group. He has been in custody since November 9, 2016.

LAST UPDATED · AUG 16, 2026

Convicted

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