At least 143 criminal cases involving treason, espionage, and related charges reached Russian courts in the first quarter of 2026, up from 125 during the same period a year earlier, according to research by Parubets Analytics for the human rights project First Department.
That represents an increase of about 14%.
During the first three months of 2026, Russian courts issued 107 verdicts in this category of cases involving 110 people.
Researchers also recorded faster processing of such cases. In the first quarter of 2025, courts had completed 26% of the cases filed during that same quarter by its end. In 2026, the figure rose to 43%.
The authors said the available statistics may be incomplete because some court data are closed to the public.
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, authorities have significantly expanded the use of laws on treason, espionage, and confidential cooperation with foreigners.