The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) condemns the arrest and detention of prominent Kaliningrad lawyer and human rights defender Maria Bontsler and calls on the Russian authorities to release her immediately.
The ICJ is concerned that the charges against Maria are spurious and likely to be related to Bontsler’s legitimate activities. Proceedings against her have been undertaken in a shroud of secrecy and the ICJ calls on the authorities to immediately clarify their legal and factual basis for the charges against her.
Maria Bontsler was arrested on 28 May 2025 under Article 275.1 of the Russian Criminal Code, which provides for criminal liability for “confidential cooperation with a foreign State” aimed at “undermining the security of the Russian Federation”.
Available information indicates that a court hearing concerning Maria Bontsler’s detention or the filing of charges was held behind closed doors, at the Prosecutor’s request, on grounds of State secrecy. However, no official justification has been provided to demonstrate that the secrecy of the proceedings was necessary and proportionate as required under international human rights law. The ICJ is concerned that this lack of transparency undermines Bontsler’s right to a fair hearing.
“This prosecution reflects a broader campaign of retaliation against lawyers in Russia who engage in what the authorities see as politically sensitive cases. Such actions serve to intimidate and discourage other lawyers from vigorously defending their clients,” Temur Shakirov, Director (ad interim) of ICJ Europe and Central Asia Programme said.
Maria Bontsler has a long record of defending politically persecuted individuals, including critics of Russia’s unlawful military intervention in Ukraine.
Irrespective of any charges, the ICJ stresses that it is inappropriate to keep Maria Bontsler in pre-trial detention.
“Particularly given Maria Bontsler’s severe chronic hypertension and inadequate medical monitoring in detention, we have grave concerns regarding her health and well-being in continued detention.”
The ICJ also deplores the seizure of Maria Bontsler’s confidential legal materials, including electronic devices protected by attorney-client privilege, in contravention of the fair trial rights of her clients and standards governing the work of lawyers.
In a broader context of interference with the legal profession, searches were also carried out at the homes of her colleagues, Roman Morozov and Ekaterina Selizarova, with electronic devices and legal documents seized. According to available reports, Morozov was questioned in relation to his alleged connections to the human rights organisation Memorial.
The ICJ stresses that under international law and standards, including the UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers, lawyers must be able to perform their professional activities without hindrance, including the collection and dissemination of information essential to protecting effectively their clients’ rights.
Background:
Maria Bontsler is a well-known human rights lawyer who represents individuals in politically charged cases and has been recognized by the Moscow Helsinki Group for her human rights defence work. Her clients include critics of the Russian Federation’s unlawful military intervention in Ukraine.
The recently introduced Article 275.1 of the Russian Criminal Code, which is not compliant with rule of law principles, criminalizes “confidential cooperation” with foreign States intended to harm Russia’s security, imposing penalties ranging from three to eight years’ imprisonment. The terms of this legislation are overbroad and vague, in contravention of the principle of legality, which facilitates its misuse against individuals involved in legitimate legal advocacy and human rights defence.
Russian domestic law explicitly authorizes lawyers to gather and utilize information relevant to the defence of their clients. This includes Article 6 of the Federal Law “On Advocate’s Activities and Advocacy in the Russian Federation” and Article 53 of the Russian Criminal Procedure Code.
Previously, Maria Bontsler was fined under administrative proceedings for courtroom statements made in defence of her clients, part of a systematic harassment faced by lawyers handling “political” cases in Russia.
