Courts in Occupied Ukraine Issue Convictions for Treason and Espionage
According to an investigation by iStories, courts in Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine have issued at least 190 convictions for "treason," "espionage," or "confidential cooperation with a foreign state" over the past three years.
Those imprisoned under these charges are people who opposed the occupation and were abducted by Russian security forces. About two-thirds of the convictions are for "espionage," a charge typically used against foreign nationals in Russia, but applied to Ukrainian citizens in the annexed territories.
The "treason" charge targets people who were forcibly issued Russian passports. However, human rights groups note that even Ukrainians without Russian citizenship are accused of "treason," despite this being illegal under Russian law.
Some dual citizens of Russia and Ukraine have been prosecuted under both articles simultaneously.
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Author's summary: Courts in occupied Ukraine issued 190 convictions.