Russian court sentences rights lawyer Maria Bontsler to 12 years for treason

A court in Russia's Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad has sentenced Maria Bontsler, a 66-year-old rights lawyer, to 12 years in prison for treason. Treason is a serious crime against the state. In her case, prosecutors accused her of passing sensitive security information to Ukraine.

Russian authorities allege that Bontsler began passing information to Ukraine in 2024. According to the prosecution, the material concerned security officers in Kaliningrad. Prosecutors also alleged that she gave Ukraine information about criminal cases in the region. Russia's FSB intelligence agency detained her on the treason allegations.

In addition to the prison term, the court imposed one extra year of restrictions on her activity. Prosecutors had asked for a 15-year sentence. The trial was held behind closed doors.

Bontsler's lawyers argued that none of the information cited by prosecutors was secret. Al Jazeera reported the sentence on November 12, 2026.