Russia Jails Prominent Human Rights Lawyer 12 Years for Treason

A court in Russia’s Kaliningrad region sentenced human rights lawyer Maria Bontsler to 12 years in a penal colony for treason. The case has drawn concern because Bontsler says she was prosecuted for her legal work representing dissidents and opposition members, while Memorial considers her a political prisoner.

Bontsler, 66, was arrested last May and accused of giving Ukrainian intelligence information about FSB officers involved in sensitive cases. Prosecutors allege she gathered it while representing defendants; her lawyers say the information was already public and presented in open court. Her trial was held behind closed doors, and she and independent lawyers were barred from hearings. Bontsler also reported serious health problems during the proceedings.