Kathrine Frich
New figures from Russia’s judicial system reveal a sharp and historic rise in the use of life imprisonment.
The numbers come as the country remains deeply shaped by war, repression and tightening security laws.
Independent analysts say the trend marks a significant shift in how Russian courts are being used.
Record-breaking year
Russian courts issued 100 life sentences between January and November 2025, the highest total recorded in two decades, according to data reported by the independent outlet Meduza.
The previous peaks were seen in 2005 and 2012, when courts handed down 84 life sentences in each year. Meduza notes that the latest figure represents a clear break from recent norms.
By comparison, Russian courts imposed 66 life sentences in 2020, 47 in 2021, 58 in 2022, 78 in 2023 and 79 in 2024.
Sharp upward trend
Legal experts say the steady rise since 2022 reflects broader changes in Russia’s legal and political environment following the invasion of Ukraine.
Meduza reports that the growing use of the harshest penalty available under Russian law has drawn concern from international observers and human rights groups.
The increase comes amid wider efforts by the Kremlin to tighten control through the criminal justice system.
Espionage convictions
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, courts have charged more than 1,000 people with espionage and high treason-related offences, according to Meduza.
In 2025 alone, Russian courts issued 468 convictions in such cases, the highest number since the current Criminal Code was introduced in 1997.
Meduza reports that there were no acquittals in these cases. Four defendants were sentenced to life imprisonment.
Crimean bridge case
One of the most prominent rulings came in late November 2025, when a military court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced eight defendants in the Crimean Bridge explosion case to life terms.
The blast, which occurred in October 2022, targeted the bridge linking Russia to the annexed Crimean Peninsula. None of the defendants admitted guilt, according to the reporting.
Crimea was annexed by Russia in 2014 following a military intervention and a referendum that was not recognised by Western governments. The bridge itself has been widely viewed as a symbol of Moscow’s control over the occupied territory.
Meduza says the verdict reflects a broader pattern of increasingly severe punishments linked to the war and disputes over infrastructure in annexed regions.
Sources: Meduza, o2.
