Political Persecution in Russia and on the Occupied Areas of Ukraine
Source: SCEEUS (Stockholm Centre for Eastern European Studies)
Author: Martin Kragh
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has been followed by a marked increase in political persecution. As of 29 December 2025, there were at least 4,884 political prisoners in Russia and the occupied Ukrainian territories. The actual number is probably much higher.
Three broad and somewhat overlapping categories of victims of persecution can be identified: politically motivated prosecutions in Russia, people persecuted on religious grounds and people living in the occupied areas of Ukraine.
The mass suppression of human rights in Russia paved the way for the war of aggression against Ukraine. It has been exacerbated by the war of aggression, which has extended political persecution to the occupied areas of Ukraine.
The hardening of Russia’s political climate has created more favourable conditions for a foreign policy based on coercion, threats and military aggression. While it has reinforced regime stability, at least in the short to medium term, it has also made top-level decision-making more unpredictable and erratic.
View the document ➚
Author: Martin Kragh
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has been followed by a marked increase in political persecution. As of 29 December 2025, there were at least 4,884 political prisoners in Russia and the occupied Ukrainian territories. The actual number is probably much higher.
Three broad and somewhat overlapping categories of victims of persecution can be identified: politically motivated prosecutions in Russia, people persecuted on religious grounds and people living in the occupied areas of Ukraine.
The mass suppression of human rights in Russia paved the way for the war of aggression against Ukraine. It has been exacerbated by the war of aggression, which has extended political persecution to the occupied areas of Ukraine.
The hardening of Russia’s political climate has created more favourable conditions for a foreign policy based on coercion, threats and military aggression. While it has reinforced regime stability, at least in the short to medium term, it has also made top-level decision-making more unpredictable and erratic.
View the document ➚