At least 69 people subjected to political persecution in Russia have died since February 2022, according to a study published on October 29 by Memorial's Political Prisoners Support project. The report, *Died Before Freedom*, lists 63 men and six women, including 16 deaths in the incomplete year 2026.
Under the authors' classification, at least 29 deaths were associated with illness and inadequate medical care, at least 20 with beatings, torture or their consequences, and ten were classified as suspected suicides or related circumstances. These categories reflect the researchers' conclusions and levels of certainty, not judicial determinations of the cause of death in every case.
The researchers did not count only deaths in detention. Their dataset also includes people who died during searches, while under house arrest, and shortly after release.
In their analytical review, *Died Before Freedom*, the rights advocates examine the known circumstances of the deaths and possible links to detention conditions, persecution and treatment by state bodies. In individual cases, they identify alleged torture, violence or suicide. Their assessment draws on collected testimony and documents.
The highest annual number recorded in the published chronology was in 2024, with 26 deaths. The youngest person listed was 18 and the oldest 81. The authors note that their list covers only cases they were able to document.