2023 became a record year for cases of treason
In 2023, the FSB of Russia initiated a record number of criminal cases of treason and espionage. As calculated by Sibir.Realii, no less than 148 cases under these articles were initiated per hour. 88 of them have already been handed over to the courts.
These are only those cases that are known from open sources. The head of the human rights project “First Department” Dmitry Zair-Bek believes that their real number may be much higher, since the FSB’s cases of treason and espionage are classified as secret, and the courts hide them from public attention and do not report on each new case.
According to Zair-Bek, the number of those prosecuted for treason has increased sharply in the last months of the past year. “Probably 50-60 such cases were initiated in one December,” he said.
Sibir.Realii indicates that out of 148 cases known by the editors, 98 are cases under the article of treason, 31 are espionage, and 19 are confidential cooperation with foreigners. “Confidential cooperation” can be considered any communication – for example, a private correspondence in the messenger – with a citizen of another state, whom the FSB considers dangerous for Russia.
In the vast majority of cases — about 93% of cases — the charges concern cooperation with Ukraine: its armed forces or special services. There are 115 such cases. Also, at least four cases of espionage in the interests of the United States were initiated per hour. Individual cases concern the accused of working for the services of China, Germany and Latvia.
The investigators of the “First Department” believe that in 2024 there will be more people accused of treason and espionage. They predict that at least 140 criminal cases under these articles may be brought to court within a year. At the same time, according to Dmitry Zair-Bek, this will not directly depend on the course of the war in Ukraine. “If they decide to end the war with Ukraine, it can be assumed that counter-intelligence will loosen its grip somewhat. But I do not think that they will give up so quickly. These people need a job, they will continue to look for imaginary spies among our fellow citizens. It is not a problem for them to volume to keep pace [преследования], and maybe even increase them. Over the past decade, the system has never given back,” said the human rights defender.
