Russian courts issued 48 verdicts in cases of high treason, espionage, and disclosure of state secrets in March 2026, the highest monthly total in post-Soviet history, according to calculations by the human rights project Perviy Otdel.
In the first quarter of 2026, courts convicted 110 people. More than half received sentences of 15 years or more, the outlet iStories reported. The number of new cases submitted to courts also rose, to 143 from 125 a year earlier.
The March record continues a trend of tightening practice in state security cases that human rights activists have documented since 2022. The previous monthly high was set in February 2026, when courts handed down 43 verdicts.
Most of those convicted are Russian citizens, including military personnel, employees of defense industry enterprises, IT specialists, and scientists, the OVD-Info project previously reported.
Since 2023, cases of high treason and espionage in Russia have been heard behind closed doors. Information about verdicts often becomes known only through reports from regional courts or human rights organizations.