Russia: Charges against Maria Bontsler increased by Russian authorities
26 March 2026
The OIAD is deeply concerned about the worsening of the charges against Ms Bontsler, who has been detained since May 2025. On March 5, 2026, the charges against the lawyer were reclassified from “confidential cooperation with a foreign state, international, or foreign organization” to “high treason”, an offence punishable by up to life imprisonment.
This new charge supersedes the initial allegations, without any new evidence having been presented. The charges relate to the alleged correspondence found in her personal Telegram account with a supposed “ukrainian officer.”Law enforcement obtained access to this information by seizing the lawyer’s phone, reportedly using physical force. This raises serious concerns about respect for professional confidentiality and the protection of the legal profession.
The lawyer’s living conditions since her detention remain a cause for concern. Ms Bontsler is reportedly subject to repeated pressure. As she suffers from high blood pressure, she is said not to have received the necessary medical care for her condition for an extended period, leading to a deterioration in her physical condition.
Her defence team was given very little time to examine the case file. The case has been classified as confidential, allegedly because it contains “information constituting a state secret”, and her defence is not allowed to take notes or remove extracts from the file to work outside the designated examination room.
The Observatory considers that these proceedings are part of the pressure exerted on lawyers by the Russian authorities.
The Observatory points out that criminalising the very practice of the legal profession constitutes a serious breach of the independence of the defence and the right to a fair trial.
The Observatory calls on the Russian authorities to ensure full respect for Ms Bontsler’s fundamental rights, including her right to a fair trial, protection against ill-treatment and effective access to the medical care she requires.
The Observatory calls for any allegations of torture to be subject to an independent and impartial investigation, and for evidence obtained under duress to be excluded from the proceedings.
Finally, the Observatory reminds the Russian Federation of its obligations under international law, in particular the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment as wells as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which states in Article 14§3: “(…) In the determination of any criminal charge against him, everyone shall be entitled to the following minimum guarantees, in full equality: (…) (b) To have adequate time and facilities for the preparation of his defence and to communicate with counsel of his own choosing; (…)”.
