Russia: Arrest and arbitrary detention of lawyer Maria Bontsler
15 July 2025
The OIAD strongly condemns the arbitrary arrest and alarming detention of Maria Bontsler, a 64-year-old Russian lawyer who has been held since 29 May 2025 in degrading conditions and deprived of urgent medical care.
Ms Bontsler is a prominent human rights defender and lawyer dealing with political cases. She was detained for ‘confidential cooperation with a foreign state’.
The lawyer suffers from severe chronic hypertension and has no access to medical care, despite the acute deterioration of her health in detention. Shortly after being discharged from hospital, Ms Bontsler was reportedly manhandled during her arrest and did not receive sufficient food and water.
Maria Bontsler is particularly known for her defence of political prisoner Igor Baryshnikov, who was sentenced to seven years in prison for ‘disseminating fake news’ linked to the war between Ukraine and Russia.
Ms Bontsler faces up to eight years in prison for exercising her profession in full compliance with the rule of law. The charges against the lawyer are unfounded and represent a clear attack on the legal profession in Russia.
Maria Bontsler’s case is part of a broader crackdown on lawyers and human rights defenders in Russia, leveraging a legislative arsenal designed to silence any dissenting voices.
The Observatory condemns in the strongest terms the arbitrary arrest and detention of Maria Bontsler.
The Observatory urges the Russian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Ms Bontsler, drop all charges against her and guarantee her immediate access to appropriate medical care.
The Observatory calls on the Russian Federation to comply with the international standards enacted by it in the field of fundamental rights, in particular to guarantee the prohibition of inhuman, cruel and degrading treatment, in accordance with the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, ratified by the Russian Federation in 1987.
The OIAD calls on the Russian authorities to cease the prosecution of lawyers for exercising their profession.
The OIAD reminds the Russian authorities of their obligations under the United Nations Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers, in particular principles 16 and 18:
“Governments shall ensure that lawyers (a) are able to perform all of their professional functions without intimidation, hindrance, harassment or improper interference;” (Principle 16)
“Lawyers shall not be identified with their clients or their clients’ causes as a result of discharging their functions.” (Principle 18)
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