Russia tightens laws against “traitors”

Under the pretense of protecting internal security in the face of the Ukraine campaign, Russia is expanding legislation against all sorts of alleged «traitors». This is for intimidation and isolation.

In early March, Russian police arrested demonstrators in Saint Petersburg who were protesting against the attack on Ukraine. Since then, Moscow has only tightened its repression.

Zuma / Imago

Task forces of the Russian domestic secret service FSB in riot gear stormed the apartment of a young man in Moscow these days. He had to stand against the wall with his hands up and was searched. Then one of the intruders warned him that the FSB had found that he had transferred money to a Ukrainian refugee aid organization. This is equivalent to helping the enemy during the “military special operation” in Donbass. His offense constitutes the criminal offense of high treason. “Did you understand that?” asks the voice.

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The video, which the FSB recorded and distributed, ends with the intimidated man saying “yes”. The publication of the recording is itself to be understood as a warning. Many could end up in the young man’s position – or end up being confronted with criminal proceedings. Although high treason cases have been increasing for years, they are still a rarity. A one-off money transfer, like thousands of others have done, is almost too mundane for that. This is probably why the FSB chose the strange form of a warning for a crime that had already been committed, speculated the Russian criminal defense lawyer Ivan Pavlov, who specializes in such cases and was forced into exile in an interview.

The suspicion of high treason is booming in Russia. He usually meets leading scientists from research relevant to the armaments sector. Lectures, publications or the exchange with foreign colleagues become their undoing. They agree that they have never exposed themselves politically. just did that Fate of the Novosibirsk physicist Dmitry Kolker headlines. With pancreatic cancer in the final stages, he was picked up at the hospital by the FSB and transferred to Moscow by judge’s decision. Two days later he was dead.

Foreign contacts are dangerous

Now the area of ​​application of the law on high treason is to be expanded. The State Duma, the lower house of the Russian Parliament, agreed on Tuesday numerous amendments to the Penal Code. They are officially linked to the new threat to Russia posed by the “special operation” in Ukraine. Participation in a military conflict directed against one’s own country, passing on information to the enemy and changing sides should be equated with high treason and punishable with up to 20 years imprisonment.

A new criminal offense, which is more vaguely formulated, punishes public calls directed against Russia’s security with up to seven years in prison. could be interpreted broadly according to the lawyer Pavlov also the paragraph that extends the ban on “confidential cooperation” to any representative of a foreign state or organization. It quickly endangers people who are in contact with foreign diplomats or journalists professionally, privately or just by chance.

The requirement for all current and former holders of state secrets to have trips abroad approved is aimed very specifically at a broad circle of Russians. If they don’t, they commit high treason and can end up behind bars for several years. The extension and retrospective application are likely to restrict the freedom of movement of many (former) employees of state research institutions and security authorities. Many of them see themselves as loyal to the political course.

According to Pavlov and other experts, another new criminal offense is aimed directly at supporters of the imprisoned Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny. This includes symbols and attributes of organizations that have been declared extremist. Those who are repeatedly prosecuted face up to four years in a penal colony. The authorities are also satisfied with posts in social networks from a long time ago that refer to Navalny, his organizations and the projects they have launched.

A worker paints over a mural depicting opposition figure Alexei Navalny with the slogan:

A worker paints over a mural depicting opposition figure Alexei Navalny with the slogan: “The hero of a new era”

Anton Vaganov / Reuters

Even loyalty to the regime does not protect against persecution

Since the beginning of the war against Ukraine, the spiral of repression has turned faster than ever. Under the pretext of having to strengthen internal security, any dissenting opinion and political action is classified as “treason”. The new criminal offenses serve primarily to isolate and intimidate. But the state also does not hesitate to apply them arbitrarily. This is shown by the numerous criminal proceedings that have been initiated for “public discrediting of the Russian army”. They are mostly based on statements about the war in Ukraine that are taken for granted in the West.

Russian and foreign media stand through a recently passed tightening of the media law even more under pressure. The circle of what is punished as defamation of the state and punished with the withdrawal of the accreditation of the media and their employees is now even larger. It should also be easier for foreign media agencies in Russia to be closed if Russian media abroad are restricted.

Everything that has to do with foreign countries and exchanges with foreigners comes under general suspicion. The legislation against so-called «foreign agents», which has been in place since 2012 and has been constantly amended, has also been standardized and expanded at the same time. Proof of direct external funding (often on very shaky foundations anyway) is no longer required. “External influence” is sufficient if the person concerned is politically and journalistically active.

Researchers, journalists and experts, who often have to deal with foreign institutions, are at risk. Status isn’t just a bureaucratic annoyance. From now on it is forbidden to teach with him. Even family members can now only be included in the relevant register because of their relationship. Even loyalty does not protect against the wave of repression. Vladimir Mau, a renowned liberal economist and rector of the Russian Academy of Economics and Public Service, a long-time presidential adviser, has been under house arrest for alleged embezzlement since last week.

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