In Russia, the number of cases against people who have returned from abroad has risen sharply

For citizens who have spent a long time abroad, returning to Russia increasingly results in criminal prosecution. Human rights activists have documented 24 additional cases of persecution against people who returned to the Russian Federation or to the occupied territories of Ukraine after having left. A comparison with a previous study shows a significant increase in the use of serious charges, particularly those related to treason.

 

One of the main trends has been a sharp increase in the number of cases involving charges of treason. While in the previous review such charges were brought against 7 out of 16 individuals, this time the treason charge was applied to 16 out of 22 people who had been officially charged as of the publication date. Two others were subject to so-called “carousel” administrative detentions.

The harsher charges are also reflected in the sentences. Of the 24 people covered in the new review, 11 have already been convicted. The average prison term imposed on them is 11 years and 6 months. By comparison, in the previous review, the average sentence for those convicted at the time of its publication was just under nine years.

In addition to treason, Russian security forces have used charges related to public incitement to terrorism, aiding terrorist activities, participation in a terrorist organization, financing extremism, and participation in an illegal armed group. In some cases, individuals were charged under several articles at once.

The secrecy surrounding high treason cases remains a separate issue. Such trials in the Russian Federation almost always take place behind closed doors; lawyers sign non-disclosure agreements, and information about the defendants may be concealed even in court databases. As a result, it is often impossible to determine all the circumstances surrounding the detentions and the charges brought.

Another notable trend is detention immediately upon crossing the border. At least 11 of the 24 individuals involved were detained at airports or land border crossings, accounting for 45.8% of all cases described. According to the authors of the review, during inspections, law enforcement officers first gain access to mobile phones, after which they can analyze contacts, correspondence, social media posts, banking transactions, and information from other databases.

According to the study’s authors, contacts with Ukrainian citizens or individuals associated with Ukraine attract particular attention. A phone returned to Russia by a relocant who has not deleted old contacts or messages may serve as grounds for further investigation and criminal prosecution.

Repeated administrative arrests are also used to prolong such investigations. In the new review, at least 10 people—or 41.7% of those involved—were subjected to “carousel” arrests. In seven cases, these arrests were carried out repeatedly over a period of two or three months. Formally, the grounds may have been administrative violations; however, as soon as one detention period ended, the individual was immediately detained again on a new pretext.

The authors of the review believe that this allows law enforcement agencies to gain additional time to gather information and prepare a criminal case. At the same time, an isolated detainee may be pressured into confessing through threats, blackmail, or deception. In such a situation, even minor information found on a phone can serve as a basis for further pressure.

The reasons for returning to Russia remain unknown in many cases. At the same time, among the established motives are the need to obtain or replace documents, resolve administrative or financial issues, visit loved ones, or care for sick relatives.

At the same time, the geography of these returns shows that people continue to travel to Russia even after the start of full-scale war. One of the individuals in question presumably returned before 2022, one in 2023, four in 2024, and at least six in 2025. In the first part of 2026, at least nine individuals returned to Russia, with six of them detained directly while passing through border control and another three shortly after their arrival.

Separately, the authors draw attention to individuals who hold Ukrainian citizenship or have resided in Ukraine for a long time. According to their data, it is precisely these circumstances that may attract additional attention from Russian law enforcement agencies.

Thus, the cases described indicate a shift in the nature of the risks faced by Russians who decide to return after a prolonged stay abroad. Whereas previously the main threat was considered to be the monitoring of public anti-war or opposition activity, now, according to the review, a significant portion of the persecution begins precisely with border controls and the inspection of personal devices.

Previously, the EU called on Russia to stop persecuting citizens through Interpol.

As a reminder, the traitor Tetyana Montyan accused the FSB of persecution.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) detained four individuals engaged in pro-Russian propaganda.