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A 65-year-old defense attorney says she nearly died in a Russian pretrial detention center. Now prosecutors want to imprison her for 15 years for treason.
Prosecutors have asked a Russian court to sentence Kaliningrad lawyer Maria Bontsler to 15 years in prison for treason. The case has drawn attention to the treatment of a 65-year-old lawyer known for defending people in political cases, who has been held in pretrial detention since May 2025.
Investigators allege Bontsler gathered information about law enforcement officers and shared details of criminal cases with a foreign state. Her case was initially investigated as confidential cooperation with a foreign state, but was later reclassified as treason, which carries a sentence of up to 20 years. Her lawyers say she has hypertensive heart disease and nearly died in detention in June 2026 after medication problems; prosecutors are also seeking movement restrictions and a 10,000-ruble fine.
In short
- Prosecutors are seeking a 15-year sentence for lawyer Maria Bontsler.
- Her treason case was reclassified from a lesser charge.
- Her lawyers say she nearly died in detention after medication problems.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The prosecution’s case, if supported by reliable evidence, is that Bontsler gathered information about law enforcement officers and shared details of criminal cases with a foreign state, conduct that could pose a serious security risk. From this perspective, treason charges and a substantial sentence may be justified to protect the state, while her health and detention conditions should be addressed separately and humanely.
The case against
Bontsler’s defenders can argue that the allegations have not been established in court and that the move from a confidential-cooperation charge to treason raises concerns about the breadth and fairness of the case. Given her age, reported heart condition and lawyers’ account that she nearly died after medication problems in detention, they may also argue that prolonged custody and a possible 15-year sentence are disproportionate and that she should receive proper medical care and a fair trial.
Explained simply
In Russia, treason is a serious criminal charge that can carry a long prison sentence. Prosecutors say Maria Bontsler collected information about law enforcement officers and shared details of criminal cases with a foreign country; her lawyers dispute the case and say she has heart disease.
Bontsler is a lawyer from Kaliningrad who has represented people in politically sensitive cases. Her case has drawn attention both to the risks faced by lawyers working on such cases and to the health and treatment of people held in pretrial detention.